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.
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.
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 Walker County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new wave of scam calls from people falsely claiming to be employees or officers with the agency. According to the sheriff’s office, callers are telling victims they missed jury duty and now have a warrant, while also making it appear the call is coming from the sheriff’s office main phone line.
Officials say the Walker County Sheriff’s Office does not operate this way and is urging the public not to give out personal information or send money to anyone they do not know. Anyone with questions about the calls is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office directly at 706-670-1931.
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.
A Canton man was booked into the Floyd County Jail on Tuesday on charges of theft by deception and exploitation of the elderly.
According to arrest warrants, 35-year-old Quinton Antonio Wood Sr. contacted a Rome man over the age of 65 on January 26 and told him his bank account had been compromised.
Investigators say Wood instructed the victim to withdraw money for “safekeeping,” then later showed up at the victim’s residence, claiming to be acting in an official capacity, and accepted $9,000 in cash.
The victim was later able to identify Wood in a photo lineup, leading to the warrants and arrest.
The case remains under investigation.
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 residents about a phony traffic citation notice circulating throughout the county that claims recipients failed to pay a toll and must appear in court or pay immediately.
The notice, which appears to be from the “State Court of Fulton County,” includes a QR code demanding payment and threatens arrest warrants, license suspension, and other penalties. Sheriff Schrader says the document is a scam and should not be taken seriously.
In a public statement, Sheriff Schrader said, “If you get one of these, consider yourself among about half the county today!! Everyone must have missed the toll at the same time!!! Don’t scan the QR and send money!”
Authorities are urging residents not to scan the QR code, not to send money, and not to provide personal information. Anyone who receives the notice should discard it and report concerns to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials remind the public that legitimate court notices and traffic citations will not demand immediate payment through random QR codes sent in bulk.
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.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, law enforcement agencies and consumer protection groups are warning residents to be on the lookout for romance scams, which tend to increase during the weeks leading up to the holiday. Scammers often target individuals through social media, dating apps, and messaging platforms, using fake profiles and emotional manipulation to build trust before asking for money.