‘Disappointed’: Scam promises homeowners big money to put cell tower on property

ASHE COUNTY, N.C. — The Ashe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an unusual scam that involves cellphone towers.

Investigators said the scam involves property owners leasing land for towers to be built on their land but they never see any construction or payments on the lease.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with one of the lead investigators on the case. He said the property owners are promised thousands of dollars every month if they allow a company to lease a parcel of their land to build a cell tower.

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However, there has not been a single tower has been built and the property owners have paid anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 upfront.

Resident Janet Segraves said she lost more than $1,000 in the scheme.

She paid the money up front, but a cell tower was not constructed.

“And can’t seem to find out any information on it,” Segraves said.

Segraves was approached in person. Others have responded to posts online.

Segraves doesn’t want anyone else losing money.

“I was disappointed,” Segraves said. “I was really disappointed. I was hoping it would be a good thing.”

The Ashe County Sheriff’s Office has asked anyone who may have been involved in this scam to report any paperwork from the transaction and bank statements.

“There are legitimate cellphone towers, but they’re done differently. Usually, most of the time, the carrier comes to the person. There’s no money put up front, and you don’t have to pay any money,” Capt. Jeremy Williams explained.

There have been cases reported in Watauga, Wilkes, Allegheny, and Yadkin counties, as well.

Investigators said they have not charged anyone and have not named any possible suspects.

The Ashe County Sheriff’s Office said they have reached out to federal authorities about the case after learning about other possible victims in other states, including Virginia and Tennessee.

If you or someone you know believes they are a part of this scam, you are asked to collect everything that is requested on the forms located here and bring them to the second floor of the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office.

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