AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas beverage regulators have warned businesses that sell alcohol to beware of an extortion scam.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on Monday announced retailers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have been targeted since October.
U.S. Postal Service inspectors are also helping investigate the scheme reported by several retailers licensed by the TABC.
Some businesses received letters claiming a third-party observer witnessed violations of Texas alcohol laws at the establishments. The letters threatened to report violations to the TABC unless the owner agreed to pay $500 via a cash card.
Commission officials say the letters are not connected to the TABC. Anyone receiving such a threat should contact the Austin-based agency.