Guilford County Warns Residents As Holiday Scams Increase

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office has issued a public advisory asking residents to remain vigilant as reports of holiday season scams rise. The office laid out a list of the most common schemes and practical steps people can take to protect themselves, emphasizing verification and secure payment practices to reduce financial loss and identity theft risk.

The sheriff’s guidance warns residents not to send money to anyone claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office and to verify any claim by calling the official GCSO number at 336 641 3694. Residents are advised never to provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited phone calls, and to avoid clicking unknown links or following links in suspicious text messages or emails. When paying bills, the county recommends using secure online portals or delivering payments inside a post office rather than putting envelopes in a public mailbox. Door to door solicitations that demand immediate payment should be treated with caution, and social media giveaway posts and fake shipping alerts are also highlighted as growing avenues for fraud.

Beyond individual precautions, the Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to enroll their home security cameras in the department’s voluntary camera registry known as the Fusus program. The registry is intended to assist investigators by providing accessible footage when crimes occur nearby. The advisory also urges people to report any scam attempts to law enforcement so that investigators can track trends and potentially link incidents across the county.

Local media summarized the warning on November 14 and 15, 2025, bringing renewed attention to the advisory as holiday shopping and travel increase local economic activity. For Guilford County residents, the timing matters because seasonal fraud typically targets the surge in digital transactions and parcel deliveries that accompany the holidays. Scams can impose immediate financial harm and longer term consequences through compromised accounts or stolen identities, making preventative steps and prompt reporting important for households across the county.

The sheriff’s advisory combines straightforward behavior changes with community cooperation. By verifying contacts through the official GCSO number 336 641 3694, securing payments, registering cameras with the Fusus program, and notifying law enforcement of suspicious contacts, Guilford County residents can reduce their chances of becoming victims and help protect neighbors and local commerce during the holiday season.