What the Sheriff's Office Won't Ask: Recognizing Jail-Related Scams Targeting Cleveland County Families

Here's the rule to remember: law enforcement does not collect money or ask for payment to handle legal matters. Period. If someone claims to be with the Sheriff's Office (or any law enforcement agency) and says you need to pay to "fix" a legal problem, keep someone out of jail, speed up a release, or make a situation "go away," it's a scam.

When you need to verify something, use official channels, not the number that called or texted you. For non-emergency scam reports and verification through the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, call 704-484-4822. If you believe you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

One common hook is an "investment" pitch that has nothing to do with real court or jail procedures. The Cleveland County Sheriff's scam guidance specifically flags requests to invest in cryptocurrency or gold futures. If a stranger (or someone claiming to be "official") steers the conversation toward crypto, gold, or "moving money quickly," you're almost certainly dealing with fraud, not a legitimate jail-related issue.

Scam calls sound urgent on purpose. The caller may push you to act immediately, keep the conversation secret, or follow unusual instructions to get money to a third party. That pressure is intentional. It keeps you from stopping to verify. Remember the Sheriff's bottom line: if someone asks you to pay money to handle a legal matter, that's not how law enforcement works in Cleveland County.

1. End the contact. Hang up, stop replying to texts, and do not click anything they send.
2. Verify through the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line. Call 704-484-4822 to report what happened and check whether the claim makes any sense.
3. Use emergency lines only for emergencies. If there is immediate danger, call 9-1-1. If you need a Cleveland County E-9-1-1 Communications administrative contact, the E-9-1-1 Director line is 704-484-4875.

Protect your personal information while you verify. Don't share bank account details, login codes, or any payment information. Don't follow instructions involving "moving money" (including QR codes or unusual deposit methods). A real law enforcement agency will never ask for payment to handle legal matters. Scammers often use one payment request as a doorway to steal much more.

Report Collect Evidence

• ✓ Save the phone number, email address, or social media account that contacted you
• ✓ Write down the date/time and exactly what they claimed (who they said they were, what they wanted)
• ✓ Keep any voicemails, texts, emails, and screenshots
• ✓ Note any payment instructions they gave (crypto, gold “investment,” gift cards, cash drop-off, QR code, or similar)
• ✓ Record any names, badge numbers, or case numbers they used (even if you think they’re fake)

Report it locally, even if you didn't lose money. Call the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office at 704-484-4822 to file a report. You can also file with IC3 (the Internet Crime Complaint Center), which is the reporting route Cleveland County recommends for scam complaints and resources.

Quick Checklist

• ✓ Don’t pay money or “fees” to handle a legal matter
• ✓ Don’t invest in cryptocurrency or gold futures because someone pressured you to do it
• ✓ Don’t follow instructions to move money quickly (including QR codes, cash handoffs, or gift cards)
• ✓ Do verify by calling the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line: 704-484-4822
• ✓ Do call 9-1-1 if you believe there is immediate danger
• ✓ Do report the scam and keep your screenshots, call logs, and messages