Bastrop sheriff's office urges local shops to stop taking phone payments following multiple scams

Following multiple reports of fraud filed with the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office, officials are urging business owners to use caution when accepting over-the-phone payments—especially for large purchases.

In a nutshell

In a social media post, BCSO Investigator Mark Garcia said he has received many complaints of unauthorized debit and credit card use at local businesses from victims living outside of Bastrop County.

"These fraudulent transactions are taking place at local hardware stores, particularly those selling steel, flooring, or other construction materials," Garcia said in the post.

What happened

Garcia explained that many of the cases are a result of employees accepting over-the-phone payments, which end up being made with stolen information including stolen financial information and fake identification.

Those with questions can reach out to Garcia at 512-549-5086.

Notable quote

"To help protect your business and prevent further incidents, we strongly recommend avoiding over-the-phone payments for large purchases," Garcia said. "Implementing in-person payment verification can reduce the risk of falling victim to fraud and ensure that only authorized transactions occur."