The Durham County Sheriff's Office is warning people about a federal court scam that nearly cost one local person tens of thousands of dollars after scammers posed as court officials and issued what looked like a legitimate arrest warrant.
According to the sheriff's office, someone who lives in Durham County reported receiving a call claiming they owed $30,000 for failing to appear in federal court. While still on the phone, the caller sent a letter that appeared to be an official court document, complete with legal language and an arrest warrant.
It looked real -- but it wasn't.
Before handing over any money, this person took a critical extra step and contacted the Clerk of Courts directly. That's when they learned the warrant was completely fake.
Durham County Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead says scammers are becoming harder to spot as they impersonate trusted agencies and officials.
"Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, often impersonating trusted organizations to trick you into giving them money or personal information," Birkhead said.
The warning comes as losses from scams continue to rise nationwide. A recent report from the Consumer Federation of America estimates Americans lose about $119 billion each year to online scams. Nearly $3 billion of that total comes from scammers pretending to represent government agencies.
What red flags to watch for
Law enforcement and courts will never demand immediate payment to avoid arrest. They also do not accept payment using gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers - methods scammers frequently demand.
Typos and odd wording can also be telltale signs. In the fake warrant sent to the Durham resident, scammers used madeup legal jargon and misspelled "surety" as "insurity."
Another growing concern is the use of artificial intelligence to clone voices. Authorities warn that even if a caller sounds like a local official -- or someone you recognize -- residents should hang up and call the agency directly using a verified phone number.
"If a situation feels urgent or threatening, that's often a sign it's a scam," the sheriff's office said. "Scammers rely on panic to keep victims from verifying what they're being told."
Officials also urge residents never to share Social Security numbers, banking details or credit card information with unsolicited callers or messages.
Sheriff Birkhead encourages residents to share the warning, especially with older adults and others who may be more vulnerable.
"Your assistance helps us protect our community," he said.
Anyone who wants to verify information about a warrant, fine or jury duty in Durham County can contact the Durham County Courthouse at (919) 8083000 or the Sheriff's Office nonemergency line at (919) 5600900.
Consumers can also file complaints with the North Carolina Attorney General's Office online.