MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - A Rutherford County resident lost nearly $40,000 Wednesday after falling victim to a sophisticated scam involving fake deputies, spoofed phone numbers, and threats of arrest. The scammers convinced the man to deposit large sums of money into Bitcoin ATMs, claiming it was the only way to avoid jail.
It started with a phone call that appeared to come from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. The caller, posing as a deputy, told the man he faced arrest unless he paid immediately. After depositing $7,500, the scammers claimed a new charge had been added. The man complied again. Then they said a judge had added another charge, prompting yet another deposit.
When the scammers told him he’d used the wrong entry method and needed to pay $13,000 more, the man asked his wife to withdraw the cash — but didn’t tell her why. He was afraid she’d be charged as an accessory, a threat the scammers used to keep him silent.
The scheme escalated when the scammers impersonated District Attorney Jennings Jones, telling the man he owed an additional $21,000. When he couldn’t pay, they threatened to have him arrested and held for 14 days. That’s when the man finally became suspicious and called the actual district attorney’s office.
He quickly realized he’d been scammed and notified the Sheriff’s Office.
In a separate case, a woman received a call from someone claiming to be Lt. Jason Peralta of the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center. He said he needed to speak with her about “legal issues.” Fortunately, she was aware of similar scams and contacted the Sheriff’s Office before giving out any information.
Another woman was told she missed jury duty and needed to pay $1,461 via Apple Pay to avoid arrest. The caller asked for her Social Security number and date of birth — a clear red flag.
The Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to stay alert. Deputies will never call and ask for money to avoid jail. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact law enforcement directly. Scammers are getting more creative, but a little caution can go a long way.
