Davidson County sheriff warns of rise in government impersonation scams
Scammers are impersonating government officials to trick people into giving up money or personal information. The Davidson County Sheriff's Office has reported a rise in these calls and messages.
How it works
A scammer calls, texts, or emails pretending to be from a government agency like the IRS, Social Security, or local law enforcement. They claim you owe money, have a legal problem, or need to verify your identity. They pressure you to pay a fee, send gift cards, wire money, or hand over your Social Security number and bank details right away.
Red flags to watch for
- Caller or sender claims to be from a government agency you do not recognize contacting you
- They demand immediate payment or say you will be arrested
- They ask for payment by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency
- They refuse to let you hang up and call the agency directly
- They know only partial information about you but ask for full SSN or banking details
What to do
Do not give money, gift cards, or personal information to anyone who calls or messages you claiming to be from the government. Hang up immediately and call the real agency directly using the phone number on its official website or your bill. You can also report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to local law enforcement.
If this reached you
Source: WKRN ABC Nashville . Scam Sentinel summarizes this news report in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.