The Wake County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a fraud alert regarding an ongoing phone scams where individuals are posing as law enforcement officers, impersonating members of the Wake County Sheriff's Office, and local police departments. 

Scammers have been making calls to residents within our community claiming to be Sheriff Rowe and other members of our office and demanding money, asking for a call back regarding a serious legal matter, a warrant for their arrest, or a missed jury duty date.

We want to make it clear that the Wake County Sheriff's Office does not call for such incidents, and any call requesting money is a fraudulent attempt.

There are programs that are used to spoof numbers, making it look as if the phone call is coming from a 919-area code. If you receive such a call, do not provide any personal information or payment. Instead, hang up immediately and report the incident to the Wake County Sheriff's Office at 919-856-6911.

"The best way for you to protect yourself from these scams is simply to hang up. Do not be intimidated into providing personal details or financial information," Sheriff Rowe said.

Here are some tips to help protect you from fraud:

• Do not answer the phone unless you know who it is and it is someone you trust. This goes for landlines and cellphones. We do not recommend you start a dialog with a scammer. They can leave a message.

• Do not answer any emails if you do not know who is sending them or where they are coming from. 

• If you must call someone and you want to verify their phone number, Google the number to see if it matches the number that they are calling from.

• Do not send cash in the mail, and try to avoid sending checks in the mail.

• If someone is “collecting” cash from you at your home and you are not getting anything in return for that money, it’s most likely a scam.

• If someone is requesting payment for something in the form of gift cards or BITCOIN, it is more than likely a scam.

• Do not give any personal information over the phone unless you know you are speaking to a legitimate employee of the company. Verify their employment, if needed.

Bitcoin Scam

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office is warning the community about a growing trend of scams involving cryptocurrency, warrants, and jury duty.

Scammers are posing as Sheriff’s Office employees, even manipulating caller IDs to make it appear as though the calls are coming from our office. These fraudsters are using high-pressure tactics to demand payments in cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, claiming that it’s necessary to resolve legal matters such as warrants or missed jury duty.

What you should know:

No government agency, including the WCSO, will ever ask for cryptocurrency or gift cards to settle fines, warrants, or court fees. Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible once confirmed, and once money is sent, it cannot be recovered—scammers know this and use it to their advantage.

Common Red Flags:

• Urgent requests for payment: Be suspicious of any demand for immediate payment, especially in cryptocurrency. Legitimate law enforcement will never ask for payment in Bitcoin or other digital currencies.

• Caller ID Spoofing: Scammers can fake caller IDs to make it appear as though the call is coming from our office. Do not trust the number on your screen.

• Requests for Bitcoin Receipts or Private Keys: Never send a photo of your Bitcoin receipt or share private information. Scammers can use this to steal your funds.

How to protect yourself:

• If you’re unsure whether a request for payment is legitimate, hang up immediately and contact someone you trust.

• Verify any claims by calling the Wake County Sheriff’s Office directly at our official number.

What to do if you believe you’ve been scammed:

If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam, act quickly. Contact your local law enforcement agency immediately. Reporting these incidents can help protect others from falling victim to the same scam.

Help us protect the community by sharing this alert with your friends and family. Stay safe, and remember, no legitimate government office will ever ask for cryptocurrency payments.