Lewis warns of delinquent tax and outstanding warrants scam

Published 10:00 pm Thursday, March 30, 2023

By Heather Richardson

Star Correspondent

Carter County residents are being urged to call the trustee’s office or sheriff’s department directly if they receive a call asking for personal or payment information regarding delinquent tax bills or outstanding warrants. Both offices have received several calls from residents in recent weeks stating that they have been contacted over the phone and asked to rectify specific situations immediately over the phone with a credit card.

According to County Trustee Chad Lewis, his office has received at least seven calls related to scammers this week alone and believes many instances are just not being reported. While the trustee’s office is calling people right now to let them know their taxes are due, Lewis said the office does not collect payment information over the phone.

“If the trustee’s office is going to call you, it’s going to be from one of us, and we’re not going to ask you personal questions,” Lewis said. “We’re not going to do anything over the phone. We can’t even take a payment over the phone.” Lewis added that residents wanting to make a payment over the phone will be given a separate number to call.

“The best thing to do, if they get a call and have a question about whether it is us, is just simply tell them you have to go, hang up, and call the trustee’s office at 542-1811,” Lewis said adding that if residents have Caller ID they can double check the number to make sure it is coming from the trustee’s office.

If residents do have delinquent taxes they can contact the trustee’s office directly to pay them. For property taxes that are more than 13 months past due, residents will need to contact the Clerk and Master’s office at 542-1812 to get current amounts due.