Knoxville, TN – The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam involving fake “missed court” or “warrant” calls that appear to come from the department’s official number.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are spoofing department phone lines and pretending to be law enforcement officers. The callers allegedly tell victims they have missed a court date, have an active warrant, or owe fines—and then pressure them to pay immediately over the phone.
Authorities emphasize this is a scam, and the Sheriff’s Office never collects money by phone. Caller ID can be faked, and seeing “Knox County Sheriff’s Office” on your screen does not make it legitimate.
Residents are reminded that court fines are always paid directly to the court, not to deputies. Warrants and official business are handled in person, and deputies can always present proper identification.
Anyone who receives one of these calls should hang up immediately, avoid sharing any personal or financial details, and not send money through gift cards, payment apps, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
To verify a real contact, call the Sheriff’s Office’s non-emergency line directly at 865-215-2243. Officials urge residents not to use any number provided by the scam caller.
Those who have been targeted or wish to report a suspicious call should contact the Knox County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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