MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam after a retired federal agent reported receiving a threatening call that falsely appeared to come from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. According to Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh, the individual was contacted by someone claiming that deputies were “coming to get him.” The caller ID displayed the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office phone number, 615-898-7777. The retired agent quickly recognized the call as fraudulent and notified authorities.

“Sheriff’s Office deputies do not call people and threaten to ‘come and get them,’” Sheriff Fitzhugh said. “If you receive a call like this, do not engage. Just hang up.” Fitzhugh explained that scammers fraudulently obtained and used the Sheriff’s Office phone number to make the call appear legitimate. He emphasized that residents should not allow scammers to intimidate or pressure them.

Officials say it is not unusual for scam artists to manipulate phone numbers to trick people into believing a call is authentic. Using computer programs and mobile apps, criminals can make it appear as though a call is coming from a trusted agency, business, or government office.

In many cases, these scams involve threats of arrest or criminal charges unless the victim pays a sum of money immediately, often through gift cards, prepaid cards, or other non-traceable payment methods. Law enforcement agencies do not demand payment over the phone and do not threaten arrest in this manner.

The technique used in this scam is known as phone number spoofing. Spoofing occurs when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to a recipient’s caller ID display to disguise their identity. The goal is to gain the victim’s trust and ultimately steal money or sensitive personal information.

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who receives a suspicious or threatening call claiming to be from law enforcement to hang up immediately and report the incident. Residents are reminded to never provide personal or financial information over the phone to unsolicited callers.