A Hermitage woman is warning her neighbors after losing more than $1,200 to a scammer posing as a Davidson County Sheriff’s Office deputy, in a case that’s part of a growing wave of impersonation fraud hitting Middle Tennessee.
Christy Mathis, 55, told News 2 she was manipulated into sending the money through an online payment app on June 24. According to a police report, Mathis believed she was helping cover the cost of a family member’s pretrial release into a drug treatment program. Instead, the funds went straight to a con artist.
It wasn’t until she saw a similar scam reported on television that Mathis realized what had happened to her. Metro PD is now investigating the case, though the money has not been recovered.
The caller identified himself as “Deputy Brad Miller” with DCSO. Authorities have since confirmed no such employee exists within the department, and they’re using the case to remind residents that DCSO staff will never ask for payment over the phone through cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment apps.
Metro PD recently echoed that warning in an online post, urging the public to be on alert for callers claiming to represent the Sheriff’s Office. Anyone unsure whether a call is legitimate can verify it directly by calling Metro PD at 615-862-8600.
Mathis is now pushing for stronger consumer protections for scam victims. She pointed out a frustrating gap in the system, since banks can often reverse fraudulent charges tied to account breaches, but money sent voluntarily to a scammer typically cannot be recovered.
Her case fits into a troubling statewide trend. A recent analysis of FBI data by Scamcomplaints.org found that money lost to scams among Tennessee residents jumped 41% last year, placing the state among the top 20 in the nation for scam-related financial losses. Federal officials say artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in these schemes, making it easier for scammers to convincingly mimic real voices and behavior over the phone.