MONROE COUNTY — Authorities are warning residents about a new scam that highlights the growing sophistication of online deception. Sheriff Tommy Jones took to social media to sound the alarm on a fraud that's taken a dangerous new turn: the deceitful practice of "spoofing" the county's own sheriff's office phone number, as reported by the Sheriff's Office.
Initially, unsuspecting locals were pestered by scammers purporting to collect funds for non-existent warrants or missed jury duty. These crooks have now upped their game by cloning the sheriff's office's mainline, thereby deepening the facade of legitimacy. Caller ID spoofing involves manipulating the caller's number to mirror that of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, with the scammers still singing the same old tune, insisting on payment for fabricated legal obligations. However, Sheriff Jones was clear on this point, stating, "This is NOT how the Sheriff’s Office operates," as per the Sheriff's Office.
Citizens are urged to ignore these fraudulent calls: do not provide personal information, resist the callers’ demands, and avoid following any instructions. To verify you are contacting the real Monroe County authorities, do not return calls to the spoofed number (423) 442-3911. Instead, reach the Detective Division directly at (423) 442-5002, where you can connect with the department through one of nine official detective options—a feature not available on the fraudulent line
