The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office has issued a notice to local businesses regarding a recent fraudulent incident in which a scammer impersonating Fire Marshal Martin Martinez allegedly conned a bar out of more than $1,500. As reported by WSMV, the scam involved the bar paying $580 via a Bitcoin ATM and $1,126 through MoneyGram after being deceived into believing they owed a fine.
Following this incident, Josh Sanders, the legitimate Rutherford County Fire Rescue Fire Marshal, clarified that at no time would his office "solicit or demand funds outside of normal permitting procedures and fees, which are processed through the RCFMO Permit Portal and through Rutherford County Building Codes," as he explained to FOX17, making it clear that the standard process does not involve such methods of payment, especially not cryptocurrencies.
The Sheriff’s Office has advised the public to be vigilant and to hang up immediately if they receive a similar call, suggesting that such tactics are indicative of a scam. This warning is reinforced by WKRN, which also covered the fraudulent scheme and shared the quote from Sanders stating the official protocols of the Fire Marshal's Office.
