Lubbock Police Warn of New Scam Spreading in the Area

LUBBOCK, TX — The Lubbock Police Department announced that a new scam is spreading through the area, involving fake messages about unpaid tickets, warrants, and kidnapping claims.

In a Facebook post, the department made it clear that they will not text you about tickets or warrants and will not ask for payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency.

LPD says the scammers often spoof phone numbers to make their calls look legitimate, and they pressure victims into acting fast, a tactic police say is a major red flag.

Here are some of the tips LPD offered to help people spot and avoid these scams:

• Take a breath. Panic is a scammer’s best friend. Pause before acting.
   
• Don’t trust caller ID. Spoofing makes fake numbers look real. Always hang up and call back using a number you looked up.
   
• Gift cards = scam. No legit agency wants iTunes cards as payment. Ever.
   
• Secrecy is suspicious. “Don’t tell anyone” = red flag.
   
• Watch the wording. If the message sounds like it was written by a robot — it probably was.
   
• Pressure is a tactic. “You’ve got 30 minutes to pay or be arrested” — not how real agencies operate.
   
• Don’t click weird links. Go straight to official websites.
   
• Trust your gut. If it feels off, it probably is.
   
• Phone a friend. Or call us at 806-775-2875. Scammers want you isolated. Don’t give them the satisfaction.
   

“If you’re ever unsure, hang up and call us directly,” the post said. “We’re happy to help — and we promise, still no gift cards required.”