RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Rutherford County residents, take note—if you get a phone call from someone claiming to be a sheriff’s deputy demanding payment for a missed court date or outstanding warrant, hang up. Deputies from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) will never call you about missing jury duty, failing to appear in court, or having a warrant out for your arrest. But despite repeated warnings, scammers continue to target unsuspecting victims, hoping to scare them into handing over their hard-earned money.

On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office issued yet another alert warning the community to stay vigilant. The scam involves con artists posing as law enforcement officials, claiming that the recipient owes money for a legal matter. The scammer then pressures the victim to pay up—often through untraceable methods like Bitcoin, prepaid gift cards, or wire transfers. The best response? Hang up immediately and report the call to local authorities.

One key fact to remember: real deputies, lieutenants, captains, and other law enforcement officials will never call you demanding payment for missed jury duty or a supposed fine. Scammers, however, often use fear tactics, making up legal consequences to pressure victims into compliance. In a recent case, a scammer even impersonated Sgt. Jason Brown of the RCSO. Another fraudster used the name Mike Frazier—who, for the record, doesn’t even work for the sheriff’s office.

If you genuinely miss jury duty or fail to appear in court, law enforcement may indeed come knocking—but they won’t be asking for payment on the spot, and they certainly won’t request unconventional forms of payment like cryptocurrency or gift cards.

In addition to the jury duty scam, another phone scam making the rounds involves fake toll violations. Victims receive a text message threatening to suspend their driver’s license if they don’t pay a supposed toll fee. If you haven’t been on a toll road recently, don’t take the bait—just delete the message.

Authorities urge residents to remain cautious and report any suspicious calls to law enforcement. When in doubt, trust your instincts—if it sounds suspicious, it probably is.