On June 3, 2025, Deputy Joshua Matthews of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report from a 70-year-old resident of Miller Ridge in Crossville regarding a potential scam. She had joined a “Reba McEntire Fans Group” on Facebook and was contacted via Facebook Messenger by an individual claiming to be Reba McEntire, who promised to send her $100,000 through a third party.

This third party, a male using a phone number on WhatsApp, requested $200 in Apple gift cards to facilitate the delivery, which she provided. He later demanded an additional $500, also paid via Apple gift cards. On the day of the report, the same individual claimed he was detained by the FBI and demanded $1,000 to avoid federal agents targeting the victim, prompting her to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Matthews informed her that she was a victim of a scam, advised her to cease communication and block the contacts, and recommended consulting trusted individuals before sharing money or personal information.

She also revealed she had previously sent $1,300 to an organization claiming to assist with a government grant.