Knox County, Tennessee – The sheriff’s office is warning residents about a scam demanding $800 for a fake GPS monitoring fee.
According to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, a victim advocate was contacted Monday by a domestic violence victim who reported receiving suspicious phone calls. The victim said her first call came from someone claiming her abuser was being released from jail.
Shortly afterward, she received a second call allegedly instructing her to send $800 through Cash App or a similar payment app to cover the cost of a GPS monitor. The caller falsely claimed she was responsible for paying for the monitoring device tied to the offender’s release.
“This is a scam,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Officials emphasized that victims are never responsible for paying for monitoring devices or services related to an offender’s release. Law enforcement agencies and victim services will not request money through payment apps, gift cards, or wire transfers.
Authorities said the victim contacted her bank in time to stop the transaction.
The sheriff’s office urges anyone who receives similar calls to hang up immediately and contact local law enforcement or a trusted victim advocate using a verified phone number. Officials also ask residents to report scam attempts to help protect others in the community.
The alert may be especially relevant to vulnerable victims navigating the criminal justice system.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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