Madison Co. sheriff warns public about phone scam

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — Sheriff John Mehr has issud a “Telephone Scam Alert” after his office has received several reports this week about threatening calls using the name of a deceased deputy.

The caller reportedly has used the name of deceased deputy James Marshall and has told citizens they have a fine they must pay for failing to report for jury duty, according to a release from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office does not make threatening phone calls, and citizens are urged to be cautious about suspicious calls as the holiday season approaches, according to the release.

The sheriff says citizens should not cooperate, for example by sending money or purchasing a card from Wal-Mart.

Anyone who receives such a call is asked to document the phone number and any names used and to give the information to law enforcement by calling the sheriff’s office at 731-423-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 731-424-TIPS (8477).