Deputy’s report: 84-year-old woman allegedly scammed

The following are excerpts from just some of the reports recently generated by the Texas County Sheriff’s Department:

• On March 30, a deputy was dispatched to a Highway 17 residence at Plato regarding a report of a scam.

An 84-year-old woman there told the officer she had been contacted by a male friend who said he had received $100,000 from a company and gave her a phone number to call. The woman said she knew she had to be suspicious about scams but figured it was legitimate because it was a friend providing the information.

The woman said she called the number and spoke with a woman who advised her to purchase a gift card for $500 and give her the number over the phone. When she did, she was then told to send a cashier’s check for $6,000 to a woman in Maryland.

The victim said the last time she spoke to the woman at the phone number, she was told she had been sent a check for $18,000. She said she called the male friend about the situation, and he denied knowing anything about it.

Investigation is ongoing.

• A deputy was dispatched to Texas County Memorial Hospital on March 30 regarding a report of an animal bite.

An 18-year-old female there told the officer that a black stray cat had come into her Possum Trot Drive residence at Raymondville, and when she went to pick it up and put it outside, it bit her. Injuries were reportedly minor.

• A 37-year-old Success woman reported on March 27 that two rings with a total value of $10,000 had been stolen from her Highway 17 residence, along with an SCCY 9-millimeter pistol.

The woman’s 35-year-old former boyfriend was identified as a suspect.