RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) is sounding the alarm on part-time job scams that are targeting local residents. If you’ve ever received an offer to "watch YouTube videos for $500 a week," consider this a friendly reminder: that’s not a job; that’s bait.
The MPD is on a mission to reduce online scam victims, sharing easy-to-follow tips to keep everyone’s bank accounts safe. The scammers typically start small—asking you to do things like add items to an Amazon cart or follow influencers on Instagram. Sounds innocent enough, right? But soon enough, they’ll hit you with the *“VIP” task fee* gimmick. Suddenly, you’re being asked to front money for exclusive access to tasks that never actually exist. Spoiler alert: They keep your money, and you’re left questioning life choices.
How to Keep Scammers Out of Your Wallet:
- **Don’t Trust Random Messages**: Real job offers don’t slide into your DMs unannounced.
- **Check the Company’s Credentials**: If there’s no website, phone number, or trackable info, run away.
- **No Pay-to-Work Schemes**: If someone asks you to pay for job access, they’re not your future boss.
- **Listen to Your Gut**: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
MPD isn’t the only department dealing with creative con artists. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office continues to field reports of scammers impersonating deputies. These criminals call unsuspecting residents, claiming they’ve missed court dates or jury duty and now face arrest—*unless* they send some cash, of course. Turns out, that’s not how law enforcement works.
Deputies Don’t Barter Over Arrests—Here’s What to Watch Out For: In one particularly ridiculous scam, fraudsters tell residents to buy prepaid money cards and share the numbers to avoid imaginary jail time. Unsurprisingly, these gift cards do not guarantee freedom. The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that real deputies don’t make arrest threats over missed court dates, and they definitely don’t demand bribes via gift cards.
One poor soul even got a call from a scammer claiming to be their jailed nephew. In this recent case we are glad to report that thankfully, they called the Sheriff’s Office to verify—and wouldn’t you know it? The nephew was as free as a bird.
The advice from local law enforcement is simple: **Hang up on scammers.** If you’re ever in doubt, call the Sheriff’s Office at 615-898-7770 and verify the situation before handing over your hard-earned cash.
This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, save yourself some stress. Keep your money for real emergencies—not fake jobs, fake nephews, or make-believe court summonses. And remember, if you think you are being scammed or swindled in some way, don’t hesitate to call the law enforcement department that serves your area of the map.
- If you encounter a part-time job scam, you can report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov/
- For additional information and tips, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nttn0JMcUq4
