Scammers have been working the phones in Hamblen County, pretending to be a detective and warning residents they skipped jury duty and now have a warrant hanging over their heads. The alleged solution, according to the callers, is to pay up immediately, often by buying gift cards or sending money through Cash App. In at least one case, the same scammer even called a local business and tried to dig up employee records.
Detectives tracked one number tied to the scheme, 423-592-3293, and say it is a cloned, computer-generated line that has nothing to do with the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Chad Mullins is urging residents to be skeptical of anyone who suddenly calls demanding money or personal information.
Hamblen County's alert
The warning went out in a Facebook post from the Hamblen County Sheriff's Office. Officials say the caller claimed to be “Det. Scott Davis,” insisting the target had missed jury duty and now owed money to clear a supposed warrant.
Investigators say they traced 423-592-3293 and confirmed it is not connected to the sheriff’s office. Mullins said, “These behind-the-scenes criminals know what to say and how to intimidate,” and reminded residents that legitimate law enforcement will not ask for payment with gift cards or mobile payment apps.
How the scam works
Scammers often “spoof” caller ID so it looks like the call is coming from a local agency, then try to panic victims into paying right away using methods that are hard to trace, such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, or mobile payments.
The U.S. Marshals Service notes that anyone demanding urgent payment by gift card or similar tools is a hallmark of impostor fraud and advises people to hang up and verify any claims through official contact numbers instead.
What to do if you’re called
If a caller claims you missed jury duty, have a warrant, or owe fines, hang up, then call the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office directly at (423) 586-3781. The county’s official site states that calls to that number are routed to the sheriff’s office. Do not share Social Security numbers, bank details, or gift card numbers with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Employers are also being warned. If someone calls asking for personnel or payroll records, hang up and call the sheriff’s office yourself using its known number rather than any number provided by the caller.
Businesses and records requests
According to the sheriff’s office, the same individual has already contacted at least one local business seeking access to employee files, a tactic that can feed identity theft and other fraud. Detectives are asking anyone who received similar calls to save the caller ID information or voicemails and report them, since those details can help investigators spot trends and track spoofed or cloned numbers.
If you believe you were targeted or lost money in the scam, contact your bank immediately and file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For local verification or to make a non-emergency report, contact the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office at (423) 586-3781.
