VERIFY QUESTION:
A post is going around on social media about a text message people have received -- one that you might have gotten yourself.
A text message from the "Sheriff's Department of Texas State," saying they are investigating a "legal complaint against your name."
We got a message from a viewer asking us to VERIFY if this is a real message, or a scam.
VERIFY SOURCE:
To VERIFY this, we spoke to Bryan Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
VERIFY PROCESS:
Bryan Police Department said this is a "total scam."
They said that scam artists are creative and can make things look like something they aren't.
"Most departments do not handle business this way," said Jimmy Morgan, Texas DPS Trooper.
He said that such message would go through the process of certified mail or similar, proper techniques.
VERIFY CONCLUSION:
After speaking with DPS and Bryan PD, we can VERIFY that this in fact, is a scam.
If you get this message, or one similar, Bryan PD said to call your local sheriff's office - do not call the number in the message.
They said scammers will prey on either the really good or really bad and want you to "act now" with a decision. The best thing to do they said is to not panic, read the message thoroughly and if you are still unsure, call your local sheriff's department to double-check.