ould be looking for. 

Everyone is vulnerable: The spoofing threat

Why you should care:

While many picture scam victims as vulnerable or elderly, Jackson's story proves otherwise: she is a lawyer. Yet even with a legal background, the fake caller ID number made her second-guess herself in the moment.

Scammers use caller ID spoofing technology to display official government phone numbers on your screen, exploiting instant trust before victims have time to verify the caller's identity.

According to Carolina Petriciolet, Director of Spanish Media Relations   Public Affairs with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), high-pressure demands over the phone should trigger immediate suspicion.

 Even the most computer-savvy, even the smartest consumer... sometimes they can reel us in and really get us entangled in all of this and confuse you,  Petriciolet warned.  So it's best to just say, 'Hey, where are you calling me from? Give me that number and I will do my research,' and hang up. 

What the Harris County Sheriff's Office wants you to know

The other side:

The Harris County Sheriff's Office emphasizes that real law enforcement officers will NEVER:

Call or text demanding instant cash payments, wire transfers, Zelle, or gift cards.

Demand immediate payment for missed jury duty over the phone.

Send photos of warrants or legal documents demanding money.

How to Protect Yourself

What you can do:

Never trust Caller ID alone

Hang up immediately if threatened with fines/arrest

Verify directly by calling HCSO at 713-221-6000

Contact Jury Services directly at 713-755-6392

Report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and contact official court or law enforcement numbers directly. If you have already lost money to a scammer, file a police report with local authorities and report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.