#FraudPrevention | AM 1180 Radio

October 7, 2026

Residents Warned About Jury Duty And Fake Law Enforcement Scams

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Chattooga County residents are being reminded to be cautious of telephone scams in which callers pose as law enforcement officers, court employees or federal agents and threaten victims with arrest unless money is paid immediately.

October 4, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Cybersecurity Awareness Month Focuses On Protecting Georgians From Online Threats

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October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Georgia emergency management officials are encouraging residents, businesses and government agencies to take simple steps to protect themselves from increasingly common online threats.

September 19, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

United Community Bank Warns Seniors And Families About Financial Scams

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United Community Bank is reminding older adults and their families to stay alert for financial scams that use phone calls, text messages and emails designed to appear as though they are coming from a trusted bank, business or even a family member.

September 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

New Georgia Law Gives Banks More Power To Stop Suspected Elder Financial Exploitation

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Georgia financial institutions now have additional authority to temporarily stop transactions when they suspect an elderly or disabled customer is being financially exploited.

September 13, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Sheriff’s Office Warns Residents About Active Jury Duty Scam

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The Walker County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about another active scam after multiple citizens reported receiving fraudulent calls from people pretending to be Sheriff’s Office employees.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the callers tell residents they have missed jury duty and now have a warrant for their arrest. The scammers then claim the supposed warrant or other legal issue can be resolved by paying money.

In some cases, victims are instructed to purchase Green Dot cards or use other methods to send payment.

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office says the calls are fraudulent and emphasized that the Sheriff’s Office will not call residents and demand money to resolve a warrant or missed jury duty.

Officials are urging residents not to send money to anyone they do not know, regardless of how convincing or urgent the caller may sound.

Anyone receiving one of the calls who is uncertain whether it is legitimate can contact the Walker County Sheriff’s Office directly to verify the information before taking any action.

The warning comes as law enforcement agencies continue to see scammers impersonating officers and government employees in an effort to frighten victims into making immediate payments.

September 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Jury Duty Scam Continues To Target Northwest Georgia Residents

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Northwest Georgia residents are being warned about a convincing telephone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers and claim the person receiving the call failed to report for jury duty and now faces arrest.

August 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

VA Mailing Millions Of ‘Choose VA’ Postcards To Veterans Beginning Today

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Veterans who receive a “Choose VA” postcard in the mail over the next several weeks should not throw it away.

July 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Officials Urge Consumers To Watch For Common Scam Warning Signs

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The Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division is reminding Georgians to stay alert for common warning signs that often indicate a scam. Officials say scammers constantly adapt their tactics, but many fraud attempts share the same red flags.

Among the biggest warning signs are requests to pay money in order to claim a prize or get a job, pressure to act immediately, threats of arrest or claims that a loved one is in danger, and demands to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or other difficult-to-trace payment methods. Consumers should also be suspicious of unexpected requests for passwords, PINs, Social Security numbers, bank account information, or other personal financial details. Offers that sound too good to be true usually are.

If you receive a suspicious phone call, email, or text message, officials recommend hanging up or deleting the message without responding or clicking any links. Instead, contact the business or organization directly using a phone number or website you know is legitimate to verify whether the communication is real.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted by a scam can file a complaint with the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division online or by calling 404-651-8600 or 800-869-1123.

July 13, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Coroner Warns Families About Funeral Home Impersonation Scam

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The Chattooga County Coroner’s Office is warning residents about a scam targeting grieving families following the death of a loved one.

In a public alert, Coroner Jeremy A. McElhaney said scammers are posing as funeral home employees after monitoring online obituaries. The scammers then contact family members and demand immediate payment, falsely claiming to represent the funeral home handling funeral arrangements.

McElhaney urged anyone receiving such a call not to provide any personal or financial information. Instead, he advises families to hang up and contact their funeral home directly using a trusted phone number to verify whether the call is legitimate.

“I personally know the owner/operators of all three Chattooga County funeral homes and can assure you that is not the way they conduct business,” McElhaney said.

Residents are encouraged to share the warning to help prevent others from becoming victims of the scam.

June 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Sheriff Warns Residents About Phone Scam Targeting Chattooga County

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Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is warning residents about a phone scam targeting local citizens.

According to Sheriff Schrader, the Sheriff’s Office received four reports in one day from residents who were contacted by scammers claiming money was owed for missed court dates, civil matters, or bond-related issues. In one case, a victim reportedly lost $2,000.

Sheriff Schrader emphasized that the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, and other legitimate law enforcement agencies, will never call residents and demand payment over the telephone. Law enforcement will not ask anyone to put money on gift cards, prepaid cards, or any other type of card to resolve court issues or bond someone out of jail.

Residents who receive suspicious calls should hang up and contact law enforcement directly using a verified phone number. Sheriff Schrader is asking the public to share the warning with family, friends, and neighbors to help prevent others from becoming victims.