The Rhea County Sheriff’s Department is urging residents to be on high alert following reports of a new telephone scam targeting local citizens.

According to authorities, scammers are calling individuals and claiming to be detectives with the Sheriff’s Department. The fraudsters are using high-pressure tactics to manipulate victims into complying with various demands.

The Sheriff’s Department notes that the callers are instructing victims to take immediate action, including:

• Sending money or paying monetary fees.

• Coming into the station for DNA swabs.

• Agreeing to be met to be served with warrants or other legal papers.

Officials want to reassure the public that the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department does not contact citizens over the phone for these types of legal or financial transactions.

Additionally, authorities are warning the community about phone number cloning (spoofing). Scammers can easily manipulate caller ID technology to make it appear as though the call is originating from a local law enforcement agency, even when it is not.

If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from law enforcement, hang up immediately. Do not provide personal information or funds.

If you are in doubt about the legitimacy of a call, the Sheriff’s Department encourages you to hang up and verify the caller’s identity by contacting them directly through official channels:

• Rhea County Sheriff’s Department: (423) 775-7837

• Rhea County Dispatch (Non-Emergency): (423) 775-2442

Personnel are available to help confirm whether a call genuinely originated from their department.