#ConsumerProtection | AM 1180 Radio

April 1, 2026

Tax Commissioner Warns Residents About DMV Text Scam

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Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton is warning residents about a scam involving fake notices claiming your vehicle registration is about to be canceled.

The scam message appears to come from a Georgia court and threatens enforcement action over an alleged traffic violation. It often includes a QR code and urges immediate action.

Officials say the notice is fraudulent and designed to scare recipients into responding or providing personal information.

Hampton urges residents to be cautious and look for red flags, including missing personal details like your name, license plate number, or address. She also warns never to scan QR codes or respond to suspicious messages.

If you receive a message like this, do not engage. Instead, report it and verify any concerns directly through official state or county offices.

Authorities remind residents that legitimate government agencies will not request sensitive information through unsolicited messages.

March 5, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia SB 94 Would Restore Consumer Utility Advocate for Rate Cases

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerProtection, #EnergyCosts, #GASenate, #georgiapolitics, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicServiceCommission, #RateCases, #ResidentialCustomers, #RomeGA, #SB94, #smallbusiness, #StateCapitol, #UtilityBills, #wzqznews 0

A bill advancing at the Georgia Capitol could bring back an independent watchdog for ratepayers as power costs remain a major concern for families and small businesses across Northwest Georgia.

February 27, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Walker County Residents Warned About Jury Duty Phone Scam

Local News, Local News Items #CommunityAlert, #ConsumerProtection, #CourtScam, #CrimePrevention, #FraudAlert, #georgianews, #ImpersonationScam, #JuryDutyScam, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PhoneScam, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #StaySafe, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

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Residents in Walker County are being warned about a phone scam involving callers who falsely claim someone has missed a court date or failed to report for jury duty.

February 27, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Rep. Lumsden Highlights Data Center Protections, Campus Safety and Foster Care Reforms as Session Passes Midpoint

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State Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), who represents all of Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the Georgia House has passed the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session after completing Legislative Day 22. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol following the President’s Day holiday and moved several bills forward during a busy week.

Lumsden highlighted passage of House Bill 1063, which would prevent electric utilities from shifting certain costs tied to large data centers onto residential and small business customers, while codifying Public Service Commission cost-allocation rules into state law. He noted Georgia’s rapid data center growth is driving increased energy demand statewide.

The House also approved legislation to increase access to naloxone on college and technical campuses, expand protections for foster placement caregivers, support autism screenings for children in foster care, strengthen student-athlete health requirements, and improve roadside safety during traffic stops as work continues toward Crossover Day.

See Rep. Lumsden’s complete report below:

February 27, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Senate Panel Rewrites Data Center Power Cost Bill as Northwest Georgia Families Worry About High Electric Bills

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerProtection, #CostOfLiving, #DataCenters, #EconomicDevelopment, #ElectricBills, #ElectricityRates, #EnergyPolicy, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapower, #Infrastructure, #LocalConcerns, #northwestgeorgia, #PowerBills, #PublicServiceCommission, #summervillega, #trionga, #UtilityRates, #wzqznews 0

A Georgia Senate committee has rewritten legislation meant to protect consumers from higher electricity costs tied to the state’s fast-growing data center industry, advancing a version that supporters say is less explicit about shielding residential customers. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee approved the revamped proposal after rejecting language that would have clearly barred utilities from passing certain data center-related costs onto regular ratepayers.

January 4, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Attorney General Joins Crackdown on Gift Card Scams

Local News, Local News Items #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerAlert, #ConsumerProtection, #DadeCounty, #FloydCounty, #FraudPrevention, #GeorgiaAG, #GiftCardScams, #LaFayetteGA, #northwestgeorgia, #OrganizedRetailCrime, #PublicSafety, #ReportFraud, #ScamWarning, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WZQZ 0

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is warning consumers across the state to stay on alert for gift card scams, as fraud reports typically spike during the holiday season and into January when many people begin redeeming cards they received as gifts. Carr is joining attorneys general from other states in a public awareness push aimed at stopping criminals who steal gift card numbers, drain balances, and target victims through phone calls, texts, emails, and social media messages demanding payment in gift cards.

December 31, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

New Georgia Laws Take Effect in 2026 Impacting Homeowners, Drivers, Consumers and Voters

Local News, Local News Items #ConsumerProtection, #GeorgiaLaw2026, #georgianews, #HomeownerRights, #InsuranceReform, #LegislationUpdate, #NewLawsGA, #SpecialtyPlates, #Telehealth, #VehicleRegistration, elections 0

As the calendar turns to 2026, a slate of new state laws passed by the Georgia General Assembly last year will begin to take effect, bringing changes that could affect how Georgians buy homes, drive cars, access health care, and participate in elections.

December 29, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

Debit Card Scams on the Rise: How Northwest Georgia Shoppers Can Protect Their Money

Local News, Local News Items #ConsumerProtection, #CyberSafety, #DebitCardFraud, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #OnlineSafety, #Phishing, #ScamAlert, #SkimmerAlert, #WZQZ 0

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Debit card scams continue to target consumers across Northwest Georgia, often leaving victims with money missing from their checking accounts and limited time to stop further charges. Scammers commonly use tactics like card skimmers at gas pumps and ATMs, “phishing” texts or emails pretending to be your bank, and fake online purchases designed to capture card numbers and PINs.

December 22, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

Lyerly Senior Reports Suspected Debit Card Fraud

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerProtection, #DebitCardFraud, #FinancialFraud, #FraudAlert, #IdentityTheft, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #northwestgeorgia, #policereport, #ScamAwareness, #summervillega, #WZQZ 0

An 82-year-old Lyerly woman has reported suspected financial card fraud after her bank advised her to file a report with the Summerville Police Department, highlighting a growing problem that law enforcement and consumer advocates say can strike anyone — but often targets seniors.

December 21, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

PSC Approves Georgia Power Data-Center Expansion, Critics Say Georgians Will Pay the Price

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The Georgia Public Service Commission voted unanimously this past Friday (Dec. 19) to approve Georgia Power’s request to acquire nearly 10 gigawatts of new energy capacity—a major expansion the utility says it needs to meet projected electricity demand from data centers in coming years. The vote was taken before two new Democratic Public Service Commissioners take office next month, a timing critics say is hard to ignore.