From the sheriff's desk

Steve Page, White County sheriff

Editor’s note: SpartaLive presents a new monthly feature titled “From the Sheriff’s Desk.” Sheriff Steve Page will discuss pertinent issues in the county about which residents need to be aware.

Every day, hundreds of scam callers go out across Tennessee, attempting to steal money from hard-working Tennesseans, and Sheriff Steve Page is offering advice to any who want to avoid being tricked. From “your car’s extended warranty” to fake warrants placed in your name, there are dozens of scams out there, and according to Sheriff Page, the scammers are only getting bolder.

The sheriff’s office warned about scam calls in the past, but there is a renewed effort by Sheriff Page to really emphasize just how dangerous and predatory these calls are. Often, older individuals are the target due to a less comfortable relationship with technology. Scammers will try to get private information, banking details, or cash deposits from those they call.

One of the more recent, prevalent scams is faking a deputy. The caller will pretend to be a deputy with the sheriff’s office. They will claim there is a warrant out for your arrest. Then, they will ask for cash to be paid to them through either gift card purchases, direct payments, or getting bank account information.

“We do not call you to tell you about a warrant,” Sheriff Page said. “If you have a warrant, a deputy will be visiting you personally, and they won’t ask you to give them money.”

Another popular scam is relative impersonation. The caller will pretend to be a relative asking for money to bail them out of jail or some similar circumstance. There are calls that claim a car’s warranty has expired or calls that will impersonate businesses associated with your personal data. They will threaten to close an account if you do not pay, but it is never true.

The most recent scam that has come to the sheriff’s attention is property deed copies. The scammer will ask if the victim wants a copy of their property deed, charging only about $200. Once they get the money, though, no copy is given. While the amount seems small, this means more people may be vulnerable to following it.

When asked how the sheriff’s office can combat these calls, Sheriff Page is very blunt: they cannot. The only defense against scams is to hang up.

“We can’t stop the calls,” he said. “Best thing is to block the number. Even if you call us and give the number that called you, there’s nothing we can do. Because they aren’t from this country. Even if they sound like you and me, they likely aren’t from here. So there isn’t anything we in the department can do.”

The scam callers are too far for police jurisdiction, which means the best weapon to combat scam calls is caution. If you receive a call that seems suspicious, hang up and block the number.

Sheriff Page hopes that as more people learn of the scams, the defense against them can grow. It is a very common crime, but it is one that requires a lot of personal accountabilities to defend against.

If you are truly unsure if a phone call is a scam, call the sheriff’s office afterwards as well. They are constantly discovering new scams and trying to keep the public informed, and they will be able to tell you for sure if that caller was just trying to steal your money.