Texans warned of frightening cartel text-message scam

EL PASO, Texas - Vinnie Martinez, who currently resides in Dallas, was recently contacted by people who threatened him and his family, unless he would give them money. It was all a scam.

"It was Tuesday night, I received a text message by someone who claimed they were from the CA cartel, that I owed them money and if I didn't pay them they were going to harm me and my family," he explained.

"I texted back like I don't know what you're talking about, like I don't know who you are, and then they called me and basically were making threats of torture and killing and harming people on that list," he added.

Scared for his family, and being hundreds of miles away, Martinez did end up paying the ransom of $1,000 to the scammers. After contacting his mother, he found out that she was safe and sound the entire time; he then contacted the Dallas Police Department.

"I contacted the police department here in Dallas, and spoke to an officer. They said it's a somewhat new and known scam where people can get info off the internet and use it to extort you," Martinez said.

The FBI office in El Paso warns that sometimes our own actions can result in being scammed.

"We really make it easy for scammers nowadays because we put everything on social media," said Jeanette Harper, an FBI Special Agent in El Paso.

She offered this advice if you encounter a potential scammer.

"They're really trying to go after the elevated emotions - the fear, the panic. So slow down, take a deep breath and try to slow down the situation," she explained.

She suggested writing as much information down about the scammers and to try to contact those loved ones who they are threatening to see if they are OK.

Harper told ABC-7 that if you think you are being scammed, you should call the FBI office at 915-832-5000, but if you think it is a real and dangerous immediate threat - dial 911.