A local resident fell victim to a financial scam over the weekend after being tricked into transferring funds through a fraudulent online link, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

On September 20, 2026, Corporal Ethan Wilson filed an incident report regarding a case of theft by deception on Dogwood Road in Rockwood.

According to the report, the victim was conducting a transaction on Facebook Marketplace when they began communicating with an unknown suspect operating under the name “Gideon.” The victim was also contacted by an individual named Hope Jack, who claimed Gideon was her father and provided a contact number.

Investigators stated that Gideon instructed the victim step-by-step on how to add and transfer money using a link they believed was associated with Venmo. Following these instructions, the resident suffered a $1,000 financial loss from an account with the Upper Cumberland Federal Credit Union.

After attempting to resolve the issue through what they thought was Venmo customer service, the victim realized the website and transaction were fraudulent. When they informed Gideon of their intent to contact the authorities, communication ceased entirely.

The victim subsequently provided investigative screenshots of the communications with the suspect to the Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement has logged the evidence, and the case remains under active investigation.