Four Oaks Man Loses Thousands In Phone Scam

FOUR OAKS — A Four Oaks resident lost more than $20,000 after becoming the victim of a phone scam in which the caller falsely claimed to represent the U.S. District Court.

According to a report filed with local law enforcement, the victim received a phone call from an individual identifying himself as Officer Ray with the U.S. District Court. The caller told the victim there were outstanding federal and state warrants for his arrest.

The scammer instructed the victim that the warrants could be retracted if payment was made immediately using cryptocurrency. Believing the call to be legitimate, the victim sent $16,000 in Bitcoin, followed by a second payment of $4,500.

After realizing he had been scammed, the victim reported the incident to authorities. Due to the nature of cryptocurrency transactions, the funds could not be recovered.

Law enforcement officials say scams involving impersonation of courts, law enforcement, or government agencies remain common and often rely on fear and urgency to pressure victims into sending money.