The Decatur County Sheriff's Office is warning businesses about scammers who pose as property owners and order work on land or buildings listed for sale.
According to the sheriff's office, callers claim to own properties on the market and request services such as tree removal, tree cutting or brick painting from local contractors.
After arranging the work, the scammers pay with what appear to be legitimate methods and later reverse or dispute the payments, leaving contractors unpaid, deputies said.
Officials said the pattern has been reported several times inside Decatur County and urged businesses to verify ownership before starting jobs tied to unfamiliar remote clients.
Deputies advised vendors to confirm identity through independent records, avoid relying solely on emails or text messages, and report suspicious requests quickly to the sheriff's office.
WBBJ relayed the warning to West Tennessee viewers as similar property-for-sale scams continue to circulate across rural counties along the Tennessee River.
Investigators said honest property owners who truly need tree or masonry work will usually be willing to meet on site or provide documents that can be checked against public listings.
West Tennessee viewers following the story through local television will see updates as officials release more detail.
Community leaders said they will keep watching developments and share verified information rather than rumors circulating on social feeds.
The station will continue covering developments tied to this headline as new confirmed details emerge.
Local and national desks will keep the headline updated as confirmed information arrives.
Readers should rely on the named sources below for numbers, quotes and official statements.
Sources: WBBJ; Decatur County Sheriff's Office