Rutherford County Sheriff's Office Warns of AI Bitcoin Scam

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Middle Tennessee sheriff's office is warning residents of an apparentartificial intelligence (AI) scheme involving bitcoin.

A Middle Tennessee sheriff's office is warning residents of an apparent artificial intelligence (AI) scheme involving bitcoin.

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office says a resident was called by someone allegedly using the sheriff's voice, demanding money to avoid a fake arrest. As a result, the victim lost $7,500 in bitcoins.

The victim was told that she had a warrant out for her arrest for missing jury duty, prompting her to withdraw her funds. The victim was given a QR code which led her to put money into a bitcoin account. She then was told to go to a bitcoin ATM where she converted the $7,500 into bitcoins.

The victim went into the sheriff's office Wednesday to speak with Sheriff’s Captain Will Holton about the phone call who was unaware of his name or voice being used by AI.

Sheriff Holton says deputies will "never ask for money for missing jury duty or for an arrest."

The phone caller used the sheriff's office dispatch number to make the fake phone call, and Detective Gammel is investigating the incident.

If you get a call from a sheriff’s office number under similar conditions, deputies advise this is likely a scheme.

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