Maryville, Tennessee – Families with loved ones incarcerated in Blount County are being urged to stay alert today after the Sheriff’s Office warned of an active phone scam targeting inmates’ relatives, particularly during the holiday season.
According to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), scammers are posing as employees of rehabilitation facilities and calling individuals to claim their incarcerated loved one can be transferred into a rehab program for a fee of $1,000. Officials stress the calls are fraudulent and no legitimate facility conducts business this way.
Sheriff James Lee Berrong said the scam specifically targets families of individuals currently housed at the Blount County Correctional Facility, using publicly available inmate information to appear credible.
“This is a scam,” the Sheriff’s Office stated, emphasizing that legitimate businesses and law enforcement agencies do not call families demanding money related to incarceration, rehabilitation placement, or release conditions.
Authorities also warned of a related scam involving ankle monitor payments, where criminals allegedly pose as sheriff’s deputies and demand money for monitoring equipment. According to BCSO, deputies never contact families to collect payment for ankle monitors. All communication regarding monitoring is handled directly with the arrested individual and the monitoring company.
In another reported scheme, scammers allegedly call residents claiming there are outstanding warrants or missed jury duty, demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest. Officials say these calls are always fraudulent.
The Sheriff’s Office reports receiving numerous complaints in recent days, with some victims already losing money.
Residents are reminded that deputies may contact individuals for routine matters, but will never request payment over the phone, including via gift cards, credit cards, cryptocurrency, or banking information.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call is encouraged to contact the Blount County Sheriff’s Office directly to verify the information before taking action.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have a tip? Message us!
