RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — In what could best be described as the latest attempt by scammers to separate people from their money, criminals are now spoofing the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office phone number in an effort to scare residents into paying up. Authorities say scammers are using the Sheriff’s Office number 615-898-7777 to make calls appear legitimate. Once someone answers, the caller claims the person has missed a grand jury appearance or has an outstanding arrest warrant. The scammer then threatens arrest unless the victim quickly pays money.
Of course, there’s one major problem with the scam. It’s completely fake.
Sheriff’s Office officials stress that deputies do not call people to collect money for missing court appearances or to clear up arrest warrants. In fact, if someone truly has an active warrant, deputies typically handle the matter the old-fashioned way — they show up in person and make the arrest.
Dispatchers say the scam relies on fear and urgency, hoping the person on the phone will panic and send money before realizing something doesn’t add up. Officials say the best response is simple: hang up. Residents are reminded that scammers can manipulate caller ID to make it appear as if the call is coming from a legitimate government phone number. Even if the number on the screen looks official, it does not mean the caller is actually with law enforcement.
Authorities also offered some practical advice for would-be victims: keep your money. “Use your money for what you want,” officials said. “Don’t give it away to crooks.”
If someone receives one of these calls, the Sheriff’s Office recommends ignoring the request and not returning the call, as responding can sometimes encourage scammers to continue targeting the number.
As a general rule, law enforcement agencies will never call residents demanding payment to avoid arrest. And if someone truly is wanted by law enforcement, the sheriff’s office says there’s no need to worry about a phone call — deputies will simply handle it in person.
- See all the recent scams and scam attempts in our area HERE.
