Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public not to fall for an arrest warrant scam.
Officials said they have received numerous reports of an arrest warrant scam from the public in which a subject identifying himself by various names and claiming to be from the warrants or subpoena division calls on the phone and asks for payment. Sometimes, the caller leaves a message, but not always. The incoming number has an 865 prefix.
They advise the public not to respond or follow any direction from the caller. The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office will not attempt to collect any money, debt or fine via telephone, or other means. Uniformed deputies in marked patrol cars perform warrant and subpoena service in person, not by phone.
The department is investigating this arrest warrant scam. Anyone with information should call 865-453-4668.
This type of government imposter scam is not new. The Federal Trade Commission says there are several variations on the scam. The caller may pretend to be:
- An agent with the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, law enforcement, government agency or law firm and threaten arrest if you do not pay taxes, fines or a debt;
- From the National Sweepstakes Bureau (which does not exist) claiming you have won a prize;
- From the Bureau of Defaulters (which does not exist) claiming you owe money.
The Federal Trade Commission advises the public to avoid becoming a victim of email or phone scams by following these rules:
- Don’t wire money, or send a prepaid debit card or money order
- Don’t pay for a prize
- Don’t give a caller your financial or personal information
- Don’t trust a name or phone number
- Do place your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov
Consumers should report incidents of an arrest warrant scam or other scam to the Federal Trade Commission as it helps the agency maintain a website of recent Scam Alerts.
