Vanderburgh County Clerk’s Office Text Scam

Text scams have been circulating in the Evansville area, and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office wants you to be aware of what to look out for.

There is always someone out there trying to trick you into giving them some money. These scammers have gotten very creative throughout the years. There are countless ways in which people can scam you out of money. It's hard not only to keep up with them, but it has also gotten even harder to decipher what is legitimate and what is a scam. That's certainly the case with the most recent scam in the area.

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The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office took to Facebook to make the public aware of a serious scam circulating in the community. In the post, the Sheriff's Office says that it has recently received reports of individuals receiving text messages claiming to be from the Vanderburgh County Clerk’s Office regarding court matters or payments owed. Within these text messages, which to many can seem legit and scary, there is often a link that you need to click on to make a payment. However, clicking on that link is how the scammers get you.

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In the Facebook post, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office wants you to know the following information:

• The Clerk’s Office does not send text messages requesting payment through links.

• Do not click on suspicious links or provide personal or financial information.

• If you are unsure whether a court appearance or payment is legitimate, contact the Vanderburgh County Clerk’s Office directly at (812) 435-5160.

According to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office, one individual recently appeared in court after receiving one of these scam texts, only to find out they did not even have a scheduled hearing.

The Office of the Indiana Attorney General offers these tips regarding phishing text scams:

If you think a text might be a scam, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real.
Blocking or using restricted phone settings is an easy way to stop spam text messages.

Don’t share any personal information over text. This is not a secure method of communication, and legitimate services won't ask for personal information through text messages.