Three Scams Cost Johnston County Victims More Than $40,000

JOHNSTON COUNTY — Three Johnston County residents were collectively defrauded of more than $40,000 in separate scams reported to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office last week.

In one case, a 44-year-old Clayton woman reported receiving a phone call from a man who claimed to be Deputy Brady with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. The caller told the woman a warrant had been issued for her arrest and demanded immediate payment to avoid being taken into custody.

Investigators said the scammer instructed the victim to send money using Bitcoin, claiming the payments were for fines and administrative fees. Over several hours, the woman was persuaded to make five separate payments totaling $6,884 before realizing the call was fraudulent. The sheriff’s office they do not have an Officer Brady with the agency.

In a second case, a 63-year-old Clayton man reported losing $23,000 after being contacted online by a person promoting a cryptocurrency investment opportunity. The suspect claimed the investment would generate a guaranteed return of 24 percent per month. The victim later determined the company was fictitious, and the victim lost the entire amount he deposited.

A third incident involved a 74-year-old man from the Cleveland community who reported being defrauded in a sweepstakes scam. The victim said he was told he had won a $5.4 million lottery prize and a new Mercedes-Benz. The caller was told upfront payments were required to cover taxes and processing fees. The man made several payments totaling $12,000 before discovering the offer was not legitimate.

All three cases remain under investigation by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said it is unlikely the stolen funds will be recovered due to the nature of the scams and the methods used to transfer the money.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to take the following precautions to avoid becoming victims of fraud:

• Law enforcement agencies do not call to demand money or threaten arrest over the phone.
• Officials will never request payment using cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or prepaid cards.
• Be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities promising guaranteed or unusually high returns.
• Legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes do not require upfront fees to claim prizes.
• Do not share personal or financial information with unknown callers or online contacts.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and contact local law enforcement.
• Report suspected scams as soon as possible, as delays can reduce the chance of identifying suspect(s).