North Carolina Sex Offender Registry Scam Warning – WSOC TV
CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a new scam in which someone is impersonating a police officer or someone on the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry.
The sheriff’s office said several people have reported being contacted by someone claiming to be with the Lenoir Police Department. The official said some sex offenders are violating the requirements and will receive a $5,000 check if they bring the offender to the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office. The caller said the resident must first transfer the money via gift card and will be reimbursed.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty spoke to one victim who said he lost $4,500 to the scam. The man, who requested anonymity, was trying to help a friend of his who is on North Carolina’s sex offender registry, he said.
Someone pretending to be from the sheriff’s office contacted the friend and told him that the law had changed and that he had money and if he didn’t go to jail he would be arrested.
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Deputies said the victim called the number back to help his friend, sent the detective a gift card and was told he would get the money back if he showed up at the sheriff’s office with a registered sex offender. That’s what it means. However, officers insist he was not speaking to detectives.
“As soon as I walked in there and spoke to the woman behind the desk, she shook her head and said this doesn’t make any sense,” the victim said. “And in that moment, it was a punch in the gut. We were fooled.”
Faherty called the victim’s phone number, but was unable to get through.
Deputies say they would never ask a civilian to take someone into custody and bring them to the sheriff’s office.
“Never, ever give money to anyone,” said Lt. Shelley Hartley of the Caldwell Sheriff’s Office. “If you have any questions, please call the Sheriff’s Office before handing over any money in any way.”
Video: ‘I feel cheated’: Victim says check-washing scam cost her $5,000
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