Newton County has seen a notable increase in fraud and forgery offenses, rising 10 percent from last year, according to the Newton County Sheriff's Office. This increase occurs as other crime categories in the county have trended downward.
The nature of these crimes often complicates law enforcement efforts. The Sheriff's Office reports that many suspects operate from outside the United States, making it difficult to pursue criminal charges. Furthermore, funds acquired through these scams frequently leave the country before authorities can intervene, hindering recovery for victims.
Newton County residents report a growing frequency of scam calls. Denise Tyler, a local resident and former banker with 12 years of experience, observed a significant acceleration in fraud investigations around the time of COVID-19. She noted that her former bank went from handling two or three fraud investigations per week to processing that many daily.
Another resident, Yvonne McClintock, shared that scam calls targeting her 91-year-old mother have become constant, with some days bringing as many as 30 calls related to Social Security and Medicare. McClintock described the increase as “amazing” and expressed frustration over the inability to stop them.
Common scam tactics involve impersonating various authorities. Callers often claim to be from the IRS or other organizations, demanding immediate payment for supposed debts. A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office noted that scammers frequently impersonate law enforcement officials, falsely claiming that individuals have outstanding warrants for their arrest.
Scammers often pressure victims to buy gift cards as payment, insisting they remain on the phone during the purchase. Tyler emphasized the importance of critical thinking in such situations. "Stop and think for a minute. Why am I paying the IRS with a gift card?" she questioned, highlighting a key indicator of a scam.
In response to these pervasive scams, the Sheriff's Office focuses on community education. A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office stated they focus on community outreach, aiming to ensure residents are "very questioning" about suspicious interactions. The office advises residents who receive calls about outstanding warrants to immediately hang up. They recommend calling their local law enforcement agency directly to verify any such claims, assuring residents that deputies would be happy to check for warrants.
While Newton County experiences a rise in these specific offenses, the trend is not universal across the region. In neighboring Jasper County, the Sheriff's Office investigated 62 fraud cases in 2025 and 26 cases during the first half of 2026.
