Clay County Sheriff Warns of Surge in Phone and Email Scams Targeting Residents

Staff Report

Morning Buzz

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to stay alert after a recent surge in phone, text and email scams in which callers impersonate law enforcement and demand money under the threat of arrest.

Officials say several Clay County residents have already lost thousands of dollars after scammers convinced them they faced immediate arrest unless they sent money through wire transfers, gift cards or other untraceable methods. In many cases, the scammers used caller ID spoofing to make it appear as though the calls were coming directly from the sheriff’s office in Hayesville.

The department stressed that these threats are fraudulent, regardless of how convincing the communications may seem.

According to the warning, no legitimate law enforcement agency — including local police, state authorities, the courts, the IRS or any other government entity — will ever demand payment over the phone or threaten arrest if money is not sent immediately. The sheriff’s office noted that most of the scammers operate from outside the United States, making recovery of stolen funds nearly impossible.

Residents who receive any communication demanding money in exchange for avoiding arrest are urged to hang up and contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office directly before taking any action. Officials are especially asking community members to help share the warning with elderly relatives, neighbors and friends who may not see online alerts.

The sheriff’s office says it continues to receive regular complaints about this widespread scam and encourages the public to remain cautious.

“Thank you, and please be careful,” the department wrote in its announcement.