KNOX SHERIFF WARNS OF SCAM CALLS TARGETING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office issued a scam alert on February 17, 2026, warning the community about a fraudulent scheme targeting victims of domestic violence and other crimes. In a recent case, a victim received suspicious phone calls: the first falsely claimed her abuser was being released from jail, followed by a second call demanding she send $800 via Cash App or a similar money transfer app to supposedly cover the cost of a GPS monitoring device for the offender.
Authorities emphasize that this is a complete scam—victims are never responsible for paying for an offender’s monitoring equipment or related services. Fortunately, the victim recognized the red flags, contacted the Sheriff’s Office victim advocate for confirmation, and successfully stopped the payment through her bank before any money was lost.
Officials urge the public to remember that legitimate law enforcement or victim services agencies will never request money through payment apps, gift cards, or wire transfers. If anyone receives such a call, they should hang up immediately, avoid sharing personal information or sending funds, and report it by contacting their local law enforcement or a trusted victim advocate using a verified phone number.
Prompt reporting helps protect others in the community from falling victim to these predatory tactics.
