Press release from Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office will never ask for money over the phone for any reason. As we recover from Hurricane Helene, many are hurting and vulnerable, and doing everything they can to help others. And scammers are taking advantage of that. If you get a call from anyone representing the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office asking for or demanding money for any reason, report it here: https://buncombesheriff.com/submit-a-crime-tip
Examples of tactics scammers are using:
- Requests for payment over the phone
The BCSO will never ask for payment over the phone for fines, judgments, or donations. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the BCSO asking for payment, do not engage, call back, or put money on a prepaid card.
- Jury duty scams
Scammers may call and claim that you have missed a jury summons and will be arrested if you don’t pay a fine immediately. They may ask you to put money on a prepaid debit card.
- Disaster relief scams
Scammers may call, text, or email asking for donations for disaster relief. You should vet the source before sharing any financial information.
- Tax scam letters
Scammers may send letters claiming to be from the Tax Investigations 2-B Unit of Buncombe County. The letters may claim that you owe a debt to the “Federal Tax Authorities”.
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