WILMINGTON, N.C. – A scammer has been calling residents of New Hanover County claiming to be a sheriff’s deputy. The scammer tells victims they missed jury duty and have a warrant out for their arrest. They then demand thousands of dollars to avoid jail time.
Eddie Keith, a Wilmington resident, received one of these calls on Monday, January 6th. He says one of his colleagues and his colleague’s son also received similar calls.
“He gave me the badge numbers. He gave me the case numbers. He sounded very, very real,” Keith said.
The scammer told Keith he could avoid arrest by paying $2,000 at a kiosk at the Food Lion grocery store.
“The strange thing was he told me that I couldn’t call my attorney and that I had to stay on the phone with him as I went to the kiosk to follow the instructions, and then I had to go turn myself in at New Hanover County jail,” Keith said.
Keith became suspicious when the scammer mentioned his signature.
“He said he had my signature and I asked him, I said, ‘How did I sign my name?’ He said, ‘You signed it, Edgar. B Keith Jr.’ I said. ‘That’s not how I sign my name. That’s my legal name, but I sign my name, Eddie Keith,'” Keith said.
Sheriff’s investigators are aware of the scam and are warning residents to be vigilant.
“If they’re asking for money on their phone, asking for gift cards, asking for urgency. You know that’s a red flag,” said Lt. Jerry Brewer.
Lt. Brewer emphasized that the sheriff’s office will never ask for money over the phone.
Keith and the sheriff’s office urge anyone who receives a suspicious call to be cautious and report it to law enforcement.
“A lot of people would think it’s real and you know, I just didn’t want that to happen to anyone else,” Keith said.
