October 24, 2024 – Scammers apparently used artificial intelligence mimicking Sheriff’s Capt. Will Holton voice to convince a resident to hand over $7,500 in bitcoins to avoid a fake arrest. The scammer used the Sheriff’s Office dispatch number in making the fake call.
Holton said the victim received a call from someone posing as him and telling her she had a warrant for her arrest for missing jury duty. To avoid arrest, the caller convinced her to withdraw $7,500 from her bank and to not tell the teller why she needed the money.
The caller gave her a QR code and directed her to place the money in a bitcoin account. She was directed to go to a bitcoin ATM found in a convenience store and to deposit the $7,500. The bitcoin ATM converts money to bitcoins.
She followed the directions then came to the sheriff’s office Wednesday to speak to Holton, who was unaware his name and voice were used.
Holton said Sheriff’s Office deputies never ask for money for missing jury duty or for an arrest.
“If we need you, we will come to your door in uniform,” Holton said. “Never ever share your information or pay someone over the phone by bitcoin or any other transaction.”
Sheriff’s Detective Jesse Gammel is investigating the case.
“It is digital currency in a digital wallet that only the scammer has control over,” Gammel explained. “As soon as the physical currency was placed into the ATM and converted into Bitcoin, it was placed into the digital wallet provided to her through the QR code. Within 10 minutes, the digital currency was divided up several times through multiple transactions using several other digital wallets.
Gammel said it is unlikely the department will be able return her money but they are working on possible options to retrieve some of the $7,500.
If you receive a call from a Sheriff’s Office number under similar circumstances, it is likely a scam.
Source: Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
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