FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about unofficial letters arriving in the mail requesting payment for services residents do not need to purchase.
The sheriff’s office said residents reported receiving the letters and contacted the Forsyth County Records Office to verify their legitimacy. Officials confirmed the letters were not official correspondence from Forsyth County.
Authorities identified several warning signs, including a return address outside Winston-Salem and instructions directing payments to Tampa, Florida.
The sheriff’s office said Forsyth County does not direct residents to send payments to another city or state.
Residents who receive unexpected letters, emails, text messages or phone calls requesting money are encouraged to verify the request directly with the agency involved. Officials recommend finding the agency’s official contact information independently rather than using phone numbers, websites or other contact information included in the questionable correspondence.
The sheriff’s office urged residents to verify unexpected payment requests before sending money, particularly when the correspondence appears to come from a government agency.
