CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (May 7, 2025) – The Carteret County Sheriff's Office is alerting residents to an ongoing phone scam where individuals are falsely identifying themselves as law enforcement officers to extort money. This type of scam has been reported throughout the region and nationwide.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the callers typically claim to be law enforcement and falsely inform victims they have an outstanding warrant for issues such as missed court appearances, failure to report for jury duty, or unpaid fines. The scammers then threaten immediate arrest unless payment is made.

These deceptive callers often use the names of actual deputies or police officers and may manipulate their caller ID to appear as if the call is originating from a local law enforcement agency, a tactic known as "spoofing." Federal authorities have also indicated that scammers may attempt to email victims fraudulent law enforcement credentials to build trust.

Sheriff Asa Buck emphasized that these callers use intimidation tactics, demanding immediate payment and threatening arrest for non-compliance. They may request payment by various methods, including cash, credit cards, gift cards, payment applications, or even cryptocurrency. Sheriff Asa Buck stressed that legitimate law enforcement agencies in North Carolina, including the Carteret County Sheriff's Office, will never contact individuals by phone to demand money for missing jury duty or court dates.

It is important to understand our courts do not issue arrest warrants for missing jury duty. If a citizen fails to appear for jury duty, the court may issue a "show cause order" requiring them to appear in court to explain their absence. However, they will not be arrested or ordered to pay money.

"The simplest way to avoid becoming a victim of these scams is to hang up the phone immediately," stated Buck. "Do not let your guard down or be intimidated into providing personal or financial information. Real deputies will not call and threaten you with arrest, so if you receive such a call, simply hang up."

The Sheriff's Office urges anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this type of scam to immediately notify their local law enforcement agency. Citizens can contact the Carteret County Communication Center at 252-726-1911 and request to speak with a police officer in their town or a deputy sheriff.

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