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DPS: Beware of telemarketing impersonators

By: Bryan Shettig
| Published 02/07/2011

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Complaints from state residents about telemarketers calling and impersonating Department of Public Safety fundraisers has prompted a statement by the department.

Phone calls from people pretending to be with DPS have often been rude or pushy and many times came after the death of a state trooper, according to a DPS statement.

“It should be absolutely clear that the Department of Public Safety will never solicit financial contributions from private citizens," said Steven C. McCraw, director of the department. "DPS is funded by tax dollars and will never call your home or business to solicit donations.”

Private groups can't use names, symbols or statements that are similar to those used by DPS, Texas Rangers or other police agencies with solicitation. Impersonating those organizations for solicitation is a criminal offense that carries a range of punishment including up to one year and jail and fines up to $4,000, according to DPS.

Some of the groups go by the names, “Texas Rangers,” State Troopers,” “Texas Highway Patrol,” or “Department of Public Safety.”

If called by a group you believe is misrepresenting itself as part of the Texas DPS, residents can call the Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General’s office at 1-800-621-0508.

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