McDowell County Sheriff Warns Residents About Phone Impersonation Scams

Scammers posing as law enforcement have been calling McDowell County residents and demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest, with callers in at least one reported case using the name of a deputy who does not exist at the sheriff's office.

The McDowell County Sheriff's Office posted a warning on its Facebook page after residents reported receiving calls from a person claiming to be Deputy Marcus Phillips. The caller told recipients they had missed their court date and needed to "take care of it immediately." The sheriff's office stated plainly that no deputy by the name Marcus Phillips is employed there.

In a separate but nearly identical pattern, residents have also reported callers claiming to be members of law enforcement and telling victims they missed jury duty, warning that a fine must be paid to avoid going to jail. Scammers in some versions of the scheme have claimed affiliation with the Burke County Sheriff's Office and told victims they missed a federal court date, threatening arrest unless payment was made at once.

The callers have reportedly used names of real law enforcement officers to make their claims sound credible, and have requested payment through methods no legitimate agency would ever use: gift cards, cryptocurrency, and payment apps including Venmo. "You will NOT be asked to pay fines over the phone, through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or payment apps," WCAB News reported in its warning to residents. "And no, you can't 'clear a warrant' with a Venmo transaction."

The McDowell County Sheriff's Office was direct in its guidance: the office will not call members of the public and ask for money. Anyone who receives one of these calls is advised to hang up without providing any personal or financial information and to report the call immediately.

To reach the McDowell County Sheriff's Office directly, call 304-436-8523. The McDowell County Communications Non-Emergency line is available at 304-436-4106.