Bradley County, Tennessee – The sheriff’s office issued a scam alert Monday after reports of suspicious social media messages involving requests for home addresses.
According to the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, officials were notified of a situation circulating in local online groups in which an individual allegedly claimed to need assistance before later stating their driver’s license was “accidentally” sent to a Good Samaritan’s home address.
Authorities warned residents not to share their home addresses for mail or identification purposes and said claims that a driver’s license was mistakenly mailed to a stranger’s address should be considered a red flag. Officials added that sharing personal address information with unknown individuals online can create safety risks.
The sheriff’s office said scammers sometimes use sympathy-based stories to obtain personal information, confirm valid addresses, or create opportunities for fraud or identity-related crimes.
If residents receive unexpected mail addressed to someone else, deputies advise not delivering it directly to the individual. Instead, mark the envelope “Return to Sender – Not at This Address” and place it back in the mailbox or take it to a post office.
Officials said anyone who feels threatened or believes someone may show up at their home should call the non-emergency number at 423-728-7311. Those who believe they have been targeted are also encouraged to report the incident.
The alert may be particularly relevant to students and young adults who frequently use online community groups.
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