FARMERSVILLE, Texas — The Farmersville Police Department is warning residents about a new scam circulating in the community that begins with what appears to be a harmless, accidental text message.
Scammers are sending random messages such as:
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“How about eating BBQ tonight?”
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“Hello”
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“Let’s meet for dinner.”
The messages typically come from unfamiliar phone numbers. Once the recipient responds, scammers work to build a friendly—or sometimes romantic—relationship over time. As trust develops, victims are persuaded to share personal information or private photos.
According to police, scammers are then using that information to extort money, threatening to post private content online if the victim refuses to pay.
Police urge the public to take the following precautions:
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Do not respond to messages from unknown numbers.
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Block suspicious senders.
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Never share personal details, photos, or financial information with anyone you don’t know.
“This is a real scam that’s actively circulating in our area,” the department said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to stay alert, think twice before responding to unknown messages, and help protect yourself and others.”
