Middle Tennessee’s Scam Season Is Apparently Year-Round - If you thought scam calls were slowing down in 2026, Middle Tennessee would like a word. The latest round of creative phone fraud proves once again that scammers are not only persistent — they’re apparently counting on panic, confusion, and the hope that no one pauses to ask a very basic question: Does this make any sense?

Rutherford County: Meet the “Fire Marshalo” - In Rutherford County, scammers have decided to dress up their con as official business, this time impersonating a fire marshal with the impressively suspicious name of “Fire Marshalo Martin Martinez.” According to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, the unknown con-artist has been calling local residents and businesses claiming they owe money for fines.

The most recent victim was a local bar, contacted on Sunday and told they needed to pay up immediately. The scam was delivered with enough confidence and urgency that it sounded official — which is often all a scammer needs.

Unfortunately, the bar employee complied. The scammer directed the worker to a Bitcoin ATM, where $580 was paid, followed by an additional $1,126 sent through MoneyGram. Rutherford County Sheriff’s Deputy Malia Porto documented the loss.

Once the report was filed, Sheriff’s Sgt. Nick Coble notified Rutherford County Fire & Rescue Fire Marshal Josh Sanders — the real fire marshal — who confirmed what should not need confirming: the Fire Marshal’s Office does not collect fines over the phone, does not use Bitcoin ATMs, and does not accept cryptocurrency or wire transfers.

Sanders emphasized that all legitimate permitting and fee payments go through official county systems, not anonymous kiosks or money transfer services. In other words, if a “fire marshal” demands Bitcoin, that’s not enforcement — that’s a scam.

Hang Up on Caller: Officials say anyone receiving such a call should simply hang up.

Williamson County: The Jury Duty Classic Never Gets Old - Not to be outdone, scammers have also been busy in neighboring Williamson County, dusting off one of the oldest hits in the fraud playlist: the fake “missed jury duty” call.

The Williamson County Sheriff's Office recently warned residents about scammers posing as deputies or court officials, claiming a warrant has been issued due to missed jury service. The solution, according to the scammers, is immediate payment to “clear the warrant” and avoid arrest.

Officials were blunt in their warning: if you receive a call saying you missed jury duty and now have a warrant, hang up. It’s a scam.

Scammers may spoof legitimate phone numbers, sound professional, and even suggest meeting at the Sheriff’s Office — apparently hoping that the mere mention of law enforcement will override common sense. It shouldn’t.

Here’s the reality check:

• The Sheriff’s Office will never call demanding payment.

• No legitimate agency asks for gift cards, Bitcoin, Venmo, or wire transfers.

• Real jury duty issues are handled in writing, not through threatening phone calls.

The Takeaway - Whether it’s a fake fire marshal or a fictional jury warrant, the goal is always the same: create urgency, trigger fear, and rush victims into paying before they stop to think. Don’t fall for it. Warn your family, coworkers, and neighbors. And if you receive one of these calls, report it to local law enforcement.

Remember: If a government official
asks you to pay a fine with Bitcoin,
the only thing on fire is the scam!