Phone scam in Blount County claims to have arrest warrant from sheriff's office

MARYVILLE, Tenn. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a phone scam in the Maryville area.

The phone scammers are calling Blount County residents and claiming to be Blount County Sheriff’s Office employees. The calls typically include claims of an arrest warrant for unpaid traffic tickets.

The caller then tells the individual they need to buy a prepaid credit card to pay the balance or they will be arrested.

The sheriff’s office posted a statement on its Facebook page that the office

“will never call an individual to tell them that they owe money on an unpaid traffic ticket or any other costs.”

The post also emphasized the office will never ask anyone to purchase a prepaid credit card to pay outstanding fines.

If you receive a call of this nature, officials urge residents to hang up and notify the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.