Last Updated on March 31, 2025 2:52 pm
The Watauga County Sheriff's Office has been made aware of an individual impersonating a deputy in an attempt to scam residents out of money. This scammer is using the names of Deputy Matt Rollins and other current or former employees to appear legitimate.
The scammer leaves messages and provides a phone number: 828-360-3263
Calls began on March 28th and are ongoing
They falsely claim you missed jury duty and face arrest
They demand gift card payments to “avoid arrest”
They attempt to steal Social Security numbers & credit card info
They can be aggressive & persistent, even keeping victims on the phone while they go to buy gift cards
NO law enforcement officer will ever ask for money to avoid an arrest.
If you receive one of these calls, do not engage—hang up immediately. If you have concerns or have been targeted, contact the Watauga County Sheriff's Office to report it. We are actively investigating and working to identify the individual responsible.
