The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam involving fake emergency accident calls.
Local authorities say scammers are calling from unfamiliar numbers—sometimes displaying names like Brenntag—and playing a frantic message with possible sirens in the background, claiming, “I’ve had an accident!” In some instances, they say this message can also be left as a voicemail on victims’ phones.
The Sheriff’s Office advises residents to reach out directly to their loved ones to verify their safety if they receive such a call. In the case from Thursday morning, authorities say the victim of the scam was unable to reach family members for several minutes but later learned they were safe.
Law enforcement advises residents to hang up immediately if you receive this type of call. They say that legitimate law enforcement will clearly identify themselves if they need to inform you about an accident involving a loved one.
They also urge residents never to share any personal information unless you can verify who is calling.
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to remain vigilant against these scams. They also suggest iPhone users enable call screening, so calls from unknown numbers are filtered, which helps reduce unwanted calls.
