Clay County Sheriff's Office Warns of Scam Phone Calls Impersonating NCDOJ

The Clay County Sheriff's Office has issued a public alert regarding a surge in scam phone calls targeting North Carolinians. According to a recent social media post from the Sheriff's Office, scammers are using a tactic known as “spoofing” to manipulate caller ID, making it appear as though calls are coming from the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) or other law enforcement agencies.

These fraudulent calls often involve high-pressure tactics, threats, or enticing promises designed to trick victims into sharing personal or financial information. The Sheriff's Office emphasized that neither the NCDOJ nor any legitimate law enforcement agency will ever contact individuals by phone to request sensitive information or payments.

To protect against these scams, the Sheriff's Office provided the following tips:

• Skepticism Toward Caller ID: Scammers can fake caller ID to mimic trusted sources, so never rely on it alone to verify a call’s legitimacy.

• Safeguard Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive details over the phone unless you initiated the call and verified the recipient’s number through a trusted source, such as an official government website.

• Verify Suspicious Calls: If you’re unsure about a call’s authenticity, hang up and contact the Sheriff's Office directly at 1-877-NO-SCAM.

• Report Scams: Suspicious calls should be reported at ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint to help authorities track patterns and prevent further scams.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office urges residents to stay vigilant and spread awareness to protect the community from these deceptive schemes.