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:
- “How about eating BBQ tonight?”
- “Hello”
- “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…