Residents are being warned about text messages that appear to come from the Harris County District Clerk’s office requesting payment.
Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess said these messages have been reported to her office in the past few days.
“People are getting text messages that appear to be coming from my officetelling you that you have a toll fee that you need to pay and if you don’t pay it immediately, there are going to be penalties added to it. Then it directs you to a website that looks very much like my website, has my name, my seal, my colors, and they want you to put your credit card information in there to pay these fines.”
Burgess explained that her official website is hcdistrictclerk.com, while the fraudulent site includes her name followed by a long string of letters and numbers.
“If you’re careful and you notice that, you know it is not legitimate. If you’re not expecting something like this, you need to verify it before you give anybody your personal financial information anytime on anything.”
The district clerk’s office is working closely with law enforcement.
“We have turned this over to the Harris County Sheriff’s Department and their financial crimes division is investigating it. If you get one of these, you need to call our office or call the sheriff’s office to report it,” Burgess said. She noted that the messages often ask for small amounts, like six or seven dollars, but could lead to larger financial consequences.
Burgess emphasized that her office does not handle toll fines and never sends invoices by text.
“You may get an invoice in the mail, but that is the only way we would send an invoice out. My office has nothing to do with toll fines. That would be the toll road authority. So that should tip you off that it is not legitimate.”
She advised residents to follow safety precautions.
“Do not ever give out any personal information. Go to the website of who is contacting you directly, not by clicking on their link, and see if it is the same thing. Call the number that you find on that website to inquire about it. People are reaching out to us, and luckily in this case, it is the right phone number they are reaching out to. You just never ever give out financial information unless you know who it is and you know you have a connection with that person.”