Scammers are working the phones in Wake Forest, pretending to be cops and court officials and leaning on residents to pay up for bogus fines and warrants. Targets report high-pressure calls demanding quick payment through apps like Venmo or Apple Pay, instructions to buy stacks of gift cards, and even orders to show up with cash in courthouse parking lots. Police say if someone is trying to rush you into handing over money for a supposed warrant, treat the call as a scam and verify it yourself before you do anything.
Wake Forest Officials Say: Stop, Hang Up, Then Call Them Back
In a recent Facebook post, the Town of Wake Forest relayed that the Wake Forest Police Department "will never contact people by phone to request payment for a fine or warrant" and urged residents to double-check any suspicious call by dialing the department directly at 919-554-6150. The town’s official news page repeats the warning and flags common tells, like caller ID that appears to come from a government office and demands to pay with mobile apps or prepaid cards. Anyone who thinks they were targeted is told to end the call, refuse any payment, and report the attempt to WFPD rather than follow the caller's instructions, with more detail listed in the town’s notice.
How The Jury Duty Scam Usually Unfolds
Guidance from the North Carolina Judicial Branch describes a standard script. A caller claims you skipped jury duty or a court date, insists a warrant is waiting with your name on it, and then cranks up the pressure for immediate payment, often through gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or mobile-payment apps. State officials warn that scammers may drop the names of real judges or officers, send fake court documents, or spoof phone numbers to look like they are calling from an actual courthouse. Some even direct victims to meet them at courthouses or nearby parking lots. The state’s advice is simple: hang up, contact your local clerk of court or law enforcement office using a verified number, and report any suspicious contact to state or federal authorities.
National Scam Surge, Same Old Playbook
Federal officials say this is not just a local annoyance. According to the FBI, government-impersonation scams are widespread and increasingly polished, with tens of thousands of complaints and hundreds of millions of dollars in reported losses nationally in recent reporting. The bureau notes that callers often use spoofed numbers, fake documents, and aggressive tactics to scare people into paying. Its warning is blunt: do not send money, gift-card numbers, or cryptocurrency to anyone who claims on the phone to be a police officer or court official.
How To Protect Yourself And Where To Report It
If you get a call that feels off, hang up and do not share personal details, account numbers, or payment information. Use a trusted source to look up and call the Wake Forest Police Department at 919-554-6150, instead of using any number the caller provides, and never pay an alleged fine with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or mobile-payment apps. To help investigators track patterns, you can file a complaint with the FBI IC3 or contact the N.C. Attorney General’s office for state-level reporting options. The state courts’ jury-duty scam guidance also outlines how to confirm whether a summons or court notice is real.
Scam Calls Spreading, Wake Forest Urges Vigilance
Similar alerts have popped up across Wake County and nearby communities in recent months, with law-enforcement agencies repeating the same message: they do not call people out of the blue and demand instant payment over the phone. Wake Forest officials say they are keeping an eye on local reports and will investigate scam attempts. Anyone who thinks they were targeted is asked to contact WFPD at 919-554-6150 and file a report with the appropriate authorities. WRAL.
