Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is inviting Northwest Georgia residents to attend an upcoming “Savvy Senior” event designed to help individuals strengthen their financial future and guard against fraud.
With the April 15 tax deadline just days away, officials are warning Georgia residents to be on high alert for scams targeting taxpayers during one of the busiest times of the year.
Georgia officials are warning residents to be on alert after a wave of scam text messages claiming to come from the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is warning residents to be on alert for a scam involving emails that appear to come from the Sheriff’s Office.
The Internal Revenue Service has released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for 2026, warning taxpayers to stay alert for schemes that could steal personal information, financial data, or tax refunds during the filing season.
The Georgia Department of Driver Services is warning residents about a phishing scam involving fake text messages that claim to be from state agencies. Officials say the messages may demand payment for tickets or threaten driver’s license suspension, but DDS says these texts are not legitimate and are designed to steal personal information. DDS officials stress they will never contact people by text message asking for payment or sensitive details, and residents should avoid clicking any links and instead verify license status directly at the official site: dds.drives.ga.gov.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is warning area residents as reports increase of scams involving fake jail bond payments and ankle monitor fees across Chattooga County and surrounding areas.
A recent incident report in Summerville is serving as a reminder of how convincing “product tester” scams can look—and how quickly they can turn into a financial loss if someone deposits a counterfeit check.
Federal authorities are warning the public about a scam involving fraudsters impersonating federal law enforcement and prosecutors. According to the Department of Justice, scammers—possibly operating from outside the United States—are contacting Americans by text message, email, or phone call, falsely claiming the victim is a suspect in a fraud investigation in an attempt to pressure them into handing over money or sensitive information.
Officials say the scam often involves multiple contacts before the criminals begin requesting personal details such as credit card numbers, banking information, or other identifying data. FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis said scammers rely on fear and intimidation, and warned that the FBI will pursue those involved.
The DOJ says these scammers may use convincing details—such as real-sounding titles, badge numbers, names, and addresses—and can even spoof phone numbers to make it appear calls are coming from legitimate government agencies. Authorities stress that federal agencies do not call and demand money or personal information over the phone, and anyone receiving these messages should not provide information and should report suspected scams.
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office is warning local residents about a phone scam making the rounds in the area that involves callers impersonating law enforcement or court officials and using intimidation to demand immediate payment.