Beware of the Houston Non-Emergency Line scam!

So today I got home from work and was greeted with multiple calls from 713-884-3131, the houston non emergency number. I answered, and when I answer calls I dont recognize I usually wait for them to talk first, but it hung up, and instead called again. First sign of a scam.

I answered and said "hello?", and they replied with sounds of police radio in the background, and had me verify they were talking to me. They then stated I was the last in contact with a minor who was being investigated for human trafficking.

Earlier of march, which is when they say I was in contact with them, I had gotten matched with on a dating app and we moved over to sms. They asked for $30 for uber and I declined and we didn't end up doing the date, havent talked since. I believe they were a scammer.

Jump to today, they claim they pulled phone records of me agreeing to meet with them. I asked what company they pulled the phone records from and they stated they didnt have access to that information. Another sign of a scam.

He explained there was a pending indictment against me, that would go public tomorrow, and depending on how the phone call would go would determine if they would send a car to my home or job tomorrow and I would be (I cant recall these details) for 24-48 hours until I'm put on the bench where the victim can identify whether I was involved in any services, customer or not.

They stated theres 2 options, turn myself into a police station, or complete some psych evaluation and get it taken off my record. The psych evaluation would require $1800 retribution or something for the family, which I would get back once I'm cleared (another sign of a scam).

Because I got multiple calls from what was claiming to be 713-884-3131, I actually got really worried from this. Regardless if I believed the scammer, I don't have $1800, and I need to show up for work to keep my bills paid, I cant just be arrested out of nowhere tomorrow.

I went in person to a police station shortly after dealing with the calls, and asked him about how indictments usually go, and whether the Houston Non-Emergency line would ever call me.
No, the Houston Non-Emergency line would not typically ever call me, let alone spamming my phone like that when I wasnt answering.
No, a detective or special agent would not reach out to me the day before it goes public.

Even with these questions answered I'm still worried. I asked him if he ran my info in the system when I gave them my name, to be assisted by an officer. Apparently its a violation of my rights to do that on their own, so I told him "I'm giving you the right, I'm super freaked out."

He calls in my drivers license number, and it comes back clean. Apparently if there WAS an indictment, even if not public yet, it would show up. Even if they didn't want me knowing that there was an indictment about to go public.

I looked it up, and apparently there was a notice put out a few years back of this being an ongoing scam, so I feel much better after talking to an officer and finding these things out. Its crazy how they can just pretend to be police.

submitted by /u/InfamousSimple3232
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