Madison County Sheriff’s Office warns of scam calls impersonating law enforcement

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is issuing a warning to residents regarding a resurgence of  scam calls targeting individuals within Madison County. These deceptive calls, displaying a telephone number identified as 731-284-8899, is falsely associated with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and often employ the name “Sergeant Barnes,” among others. 

In these fraudulent calls, scammers pose as deputies from MCSO and falsely claim that the recipient has failed to appear for jury duty in a local court. Victims are then instructed to follow specific payment instructions, which may include withdrawing cash from an ATM, sending a money order, or purchasing certain types of gift cards. The scammers assert that this payment is necessary to address the alleged court matter. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is a SCAM! 

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that it will NEVER initiate such calls or demand any form  of payment over the phone. Furthermore, individuals should never provide cash, and any website provided by the scammer for online payments is fraudulent and should not be accessed. The telephone number or any related recorded message that claims to be the Madison County Sheriff’s Office is also fraudulent. 

Sample recording of fraudulent voicemail message: “Hi, this is Sergeant Barnes with the Madison County  Sheriff’s Department. If this is an emergency please hang up and call 911. If it is not, please leave your name and number, and I will get back with you at my earliest convenience.” 

If you receive a call of this nature, it is crucial to immediately contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 731-423-6000 to report the incident. 

We urge the community to assist in sharing this vital information with family and friends to ensure  everyone is aware of this ongoing scam and can take measures to avoid becoming a victim. 

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