RHEA COUNTY SHERIFF WARNS RESIDENTS OF ACTIVE CAR GIVEAWAY AND FAKE JAIL BOND SCAMS
Residents in Rhea County are being urged to exercise caution following a warning from the Rhea County Sheriff’s Office regarding two active telephone scams targeting the community.
Sheriff John Argo reports that fraudsters are currently utilizing deceptive tactics to target vulnerable individuals, prompting an urgent community-wide alert:
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Scam #1 (“You’ve Won a Car”): Scammers are contacting citizens claiming they have won a free vehicle, then demanding upfront money or sensitive personal information to release the prize.
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Scam #2 (Fake Jail Bond Calls): Scammers are harvesting names from the local jail website to pose as sheriff’s office employees, calling family members and demanding immediate payment to bond their loved ones out of custody.
Important Safety Reminders
Authorities stress that the Sheriff’s Office will never demand bond money through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer payment apps. Residents are reminded to never send money or share personal financial information over the phone with unexpected callers, regardless of whether the caller appears to have insider knowledge about an inmate.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call is advised to hang up immediately and verify the situation by contacting the Rhea County Sheriff’s Office directly using an official phone number. Officials are asking the public to share this warning, particularly with elderly friends, family members, and neighbors who may be frequent targets of these fraudulent schemes.
