Rutherford County, TN – A new impersonation scam is hitting residents in Rutherford County today after a woman was tricked into handing over money to someone posing as a school resource officer, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, scammers pretended to be SRO Jamie Bailey and convinced a woman she needed to pay cash immediately to avoid going to jail for supposed arrest warrants. After turning over the money, the woman later called Bailey at the Sheriff’s Office to follow up—only for the deputy to tell her he had no idea what she was talking about.
Bailey then realized the scammers had allegedly targeted and deceived her. When he asked how much money she gave them, the woman confirmed she had been “talking with him all day,” even though the real deputy made no such calls.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies do not call residents to request money, especially for warrants, fines, or missed court appearances. Officials emphasized that if a person is wanted for a crime, deputies will meet with them in person, not by phone, and they will never demand payment to avoid arrest.
The department is urging residents to share this warning with friends and family so others do not fall victim to similar threats involving fake deputies, arrest claims, or demands for immediate payment.
Residents who receive suspicious calls or threats involving law enforcement are encouraged to hang up and contact the Sheriff’s Office directly.
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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