Uptick in impersonation scams across Mecklenburg County: Sheriff

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a persistent phone scam that has stolen thousands of dollars from victims for several years.

Scammers are posing as MCSO deputies, claiming the targeted person has missed a court date or failed to appear for jury duty, while pressuring them to pay to avoid arrest.

Reports of these fraudulent calls come into MCSO daily. Victims are often told to provide
personal financial information or make immediate payments through gifts cards, wire transfers,
or other untraceable methods.

The sheriff’s office says this is a scam.

Since January 2025, MCSO has logged over 400 reports from individuals who were either
scammed or at risk of being scammed. In one case, echoing many others, a victim claims they
were contacted by someone impersonating a former officer, using Mecklenburg County’s caller ID. Exploiting their fear, the caller informed the victim that they had failed to appear for a
federal grand jury, resulting in a warrant for their arrest. This ultimately led the victim to send
funds quickly. They claim to have lost up to $30,000.

MCSO will never call to request or accept payment for missed jury duty, warrants, or to avoid
arrest.

Be aware and know the red flags. Here are some tips from NCDOJ and MCSO:

• If you receive a call from someone claiming to be affiliated with MCSO and they demand
• money or payment for missed jury duty or warrants, hang up. This is a scam.
• Be aware that these scammers may use a fake police radio in the background or contact
  you from a phone number that appears to be MCSO.
• If someone calls you and asks for your Social Security number, banking information or
  credit card number, hang up.
• If someone insists that you cannot end the call until you send funds, be advised that
  MCSO would never require this. Hang up.
• Always keep in mind: In North Carolina, jury summons and failure to appear notices are
  required to be mailed to you.
• Note some more common phrases used to solicit money:
  • Your loved one or someone is currently being processed
  • You have failed to attend a court date
  • A federal subpoena has been issued
  • In a voicemail: You need to return their call regarding a “legal matter”
• MCSO will never request funds, particularly not in the form of gift cards, bitcoins, or
  scratch-off tickets.
• Scammers often use fake citation and badge numbers, as well as names of both current
  and former deputies.

These scammers catch people off guard or when they’re most vulnerable and force them to pay the money immediately. Unfortunately, scams like this are happening on a national level. Rest assured, we will never call and tell you to bring money. If you miss a court date or grand jury, do not pay a fine or fee. It sounds legit, but it’s not legit. Do not pay them. Do not talk to them.

If you think you have been contacted by a scammer, submit a report via the NC Attorney
General’s website or call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM (1-877-566-7226).