Officials with the Denton County Sheriff’s Office warned that scammers are impersonating department members, calling residents, and demanding Bitcoin.
Scammers are using the names of real Denton sheriff employees when contacting residents, officials warned.
The suspects use “scare tactics,” claiming the resident missed federal jury duty and is now wanted on an arrest warrant. The only way to resolve this, they claim, is to pay in Bitcoin via a QR code.
“Please remain vigilant,” sheriff’s officials said. “Never share personal information over the phone, and do not send money to anyone claiming to be affiliated with the sheriff’s office.”
Denton sheriff officials asked residents who receive suspicious calls or messages to hang up, then report them to local law enforcement. The department’s non-emergency phone number is 940-349-1600.
Officials with the Denton Police Department also warned about the scam.
“Scammers are calling residents and claiming they missed federal jury duty, then demanding money to clear a warrant,” department officials said. “If you receive a call like this, hang up and do not send money.”
Denton police officials said law enforcement will never ask for payment over the phone, especially in Bitcoin. They pointed to the sheriff’s warning for more information.
Similar Warnings Across North Texas
The Collin County Sheriff’s Office busted a $55 million gold bar scam in late January – raiding Tilak Jewelers in Irving and Saima Jewelers in Frisco, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. Sgt. Jessica Pond told DX deputies that three suspects were arrested: Nirav Ajay Soni, Tithi Sanjay Patel, and Ingra Pal.
The scam allegedly began with emails to elderly victims, warning them of fake criminal probes and potential arrest unless they secretly bought gold or liquidated assets and delivered it to couriers. The couriers then reportedly sold the gold to store owners, who melted it down for resale.
At the time of the bust, roughly 200 elderly victims in Collin County lost more than $7.28 million in retirement funds, with $55 million lost across Texas. Collin sheriff’s officials reported on February 2 that they were receiving a “high volume” of inquiries from potential victims of the scam.
In November 2025, Denton police warned about a scammer posing as a sergeant and demanding cash over the phone, as previously reported on by The Dallas Express.
In September, officials with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office warned of a similar scam, where suspects would urge residents to complete a wire transfer to avoid legal consequences.
