Houston has several nicknames, including H-Town and Space City. Some Houstonians are old enough to remember when Houston became known nationwide as Clutch City (shout-out to the 1994-1995 Houston Rockets).
These days, however, Houston could very well be known as Scam City.
According to a study by All About Cookies, Houston ranks #26 out of the 100 cities surveyed regarding scam frequency. However, another study cited by Click2Houston states that Houston ranks second in the nation specifically for moving scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Houston ranked #7 for cities with the most credit card fraud in 2023.
Black and Brown communities hit hardest
Black and Brown Houstonians are targeted for scams so frequently that in 2024, Houston Ethnic Media (now Houston Community Media) held a special briefing for reporters and community influencers to make them aware (and their readers and viewers) about specific scams targeting communities of color and immigrants.
Whether it’s check and bank fraud, romance scams or phishing emails, Houston’s got you covered. And that’s not good. Just ask Sheroo Mukhtiar, executive director with SERJobs & Financial Empowerment Center.
“I was naive to think that nonprofits would be spared from scam and fraud because we do good work in the community. Of course, I was wrong with that because, if anything, we are seen as an easy target,” said Mukhtiar, executive director with SERJobs & Financial Empowerment Center. “I will say that, with the pandemic, I think the scams have become even more sophisticated.”
During the Houston Ethnic Media workshop, Mukhtiar discussed an incident involving scammers impersonating her to target SERJobs employees.
This incident, however, had a happy ending. Not only was the scam discovered in time to seriously reduce potential harm, SERJobs made information about such scam attempts part of its onboarding lessons.
Tariq Gladney, managing attorney with Lone Star Legal Aid (Ft. Bend), was a panelist during the workshop. He spoke on the devastating impact of some scams.
“Scams can lead to financial ruin and loss of homes, and if you think about the wealth gap and more people falling into poverty, it is something that society as a whole should be concerned about,” said Gladney.
According to multiple consumer protection sources, nearly 40% of Black adults in the U.S. report being targeted by scams, and nearly 20% say they lost money as a result. Alarmingly, 60% of those who lost money say it happened more than once.
Older Black adults are particularly susceptible. Higher rates of Alzheimer’s, lower financial literacy, and systemic mistrust of law enforcement have made elder financial exploitation a quietly devastating epidemic. Experts say scammers often impersonate government officials (Social Security, IRS), target Black and Latino adults ages 18 to 39 heavily with fake job offers or romance schemes, or lure victims with promises of COVID-19 stimulus checks.
“We find that people aged 50 to 64 are contacted almost weekly by scammers,” said Kathy Stokes of AARP. “And the emotional toll can be just as bad as the financial loss. The stress adds up, especially when it happens more than once.”
Local fighters
An immigrant from Peru, José Luis Castillo arrived in the United States (Atlanta, GA) 30 years ago. Like many newcomers, his first job was in construction. But journalism would eventually become his calling, founding the website Atlanta Latino, and later working for Telemundo Dallas and Telemundo Houston, where he led their investigative journalism unit until pandemic-era layoffs gutted local newsrooms.
Refusing to give up his mission of justice, Castillo founded LaEsquinaTX.com, a nimble, independent outlet focused on investigative journalism, consumer protection, and immigrant rights—all in Spanish (though they also help English speakers in need).
“There’s nothing else like La Esquina in Texas,” Castillo says. “We are informing, educating, and empowering our people to protect their rights and well-being.”
Since launching, La Esquina has helped more than 120 families recover more than $60,000 in stolen funds and has been nominated for consumer protection awards two years running.
Impact
La Esquina uncovered the CryptoFX Ponzi scheme, a $300 million scam based in Houston that spread across 20 states, targeting nearly 40,000 Latino investors—many of them undocumented and too fearful to report the crime.
La Esquina has also provided relief in more intimate crises, helping a Spanish-speaking Afro-Latina from Honduras secure a new home after being trapped in an apartment where the bathroom roof had collapsed and the landlord was non-responsive.
Castillo and his colleagues fill a dangerous gap in consumer protection, particularly for Spanish-speaking immigrants, including the Afro-Latinx community, many of whom fear retaliation or deportation if they report scams.
According to recent data, Houston is home to one of the largest Afro-Latinx populations in the U.S., with a significant number speaking Spanish as their first language—yet few resources exist that speak directly to their needs.
High-risk Houston
The Greater Houston area is a known hotspot for scam activity—both high-tech and old-school. Here are some of the most common fraud schemes currently affecting Houstonians:
- Jury Duty “Smishing” Scams: Fraudsters impersonate court officials via text or phone calls, threatening arrest unless the victim pays a fine. The Houston Police Department (HPD) has issued public warnings, urging residents never to send payments by text.
- TxTag and Government Impersonation Smishing: Fake texts claiming to be from toll road authorities, delivery services, or the IRS prompt users to click malicious links. The Texas Attorney General’s office reports over 13,000 statewide victims so far.
- Tech Support and Telemarketing Fraud: These scams disproportionately affect the elderly. Often run by overseas call centers, they trick victims into giving remote access to their computers—then demand money for bogus repairs.
- Romance and Advance Fee Scams (“Nigerian Prince” scams): These elaborate emotional traps often begin on dating sites or email and result in victims wiring away life savings to someone they’ve never met.
- Robocalls from “IRS” or “Social Security”: Threatening legal action or arrest unless payment is made immediately, these scare tactics still reel in thousands of victims annually.
Resources for scam victims
Victims of scams in the Houston area can access several resources, though navigating them isn’t always easy. Here are key organizations providing support:
- Houston Police Department – Victim Services Division
1200 Travis St. | 713-308-0080
Offers crisis support, crime victim compensation, and referral services. - Houston-Galveston Area Council – Elder Justice Program
346-500-4620
Free legal help, asset recovery, and scam intervention for seniors 65+. - Crime Stoppers of Houston – Victim Advocacy
crime-stoppers.org
Provides guidance for all crime victims, including scam victims. - Houston Chapter – Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
houstonacfe.org
Offers educational events, fraud hotlines, and prevention tools. - SCARS (Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams)
againstscams.org
Offers free online and local support groups for scam victims. - Texas Attorney General – Victim Assistance Program
texasattorneygeneral.gov
Provides a range of resources and referrals for victims of fraud and identity theft.
Verify
Whether scammers access you via phone or email, Krystal Walker, executive assistant to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, offers sound advice.
“My main takeaway is verify, verify, verify! If you care about your money, verify that you’re sending it to the right place and that you’re sending it to the right person,” said Walker. “Don’t be afraid to ask.”
