#ScamAlert | AM 1180 Radio

September 13, 2026

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

Local News, Local News Items #CallerIDSpoofing, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #ConsumerProtection, #CourtScam, #FederalCourt, #floydcountyga, #FraudAlert, #FraudPrevention, #FTC, #GordonCountyGA, #ImpersonationScam, #JuryDutyScam, #JuryScam, #LawEnforcement, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NorthernDistrictofGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #PhoneScam, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #ScamWarning, #SpoofedCalls, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WalkerCountySheriffsOffice, #WarrantScam, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

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 25, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Agriculture Officials Warn Of Fake Farmers Market Vendor Scam

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureCommissioner, #AtlantaGA, #AtlantaStateFarmersMarket, #AvoidScams, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #ClaytonCountyGA, #ConsumerAlert, #ConsumerProtection, #FacebookScam, #Farmers, #FarmersMarket, #FarmersMarkets, #FarmersMarketScam, #ForestParkGA, #FraudAlert, #GDA, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #GeorgiaGrown, #georgianews, #GeorgiaSmallBusiness, #GeorgiaVendors, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #OnlineFraud, #OnlineScam, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #smallbusiness, #SocialMediaScam, #summervillega, #trionga, #TylerHarper, #Vendors, #VendorScam, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is warning farmers, vendors and small-business owners about a fraudulent event advertised on social media as being held at the Atlanta State Farmers Market.

August 19, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

North Georgia EMC Warns Members About Disconnect Scam Calls And Texts

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North Georgia EMC is warning its members to be on alert for scam phone calls and text messages threatening to disconnect electric service.

August 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Scammers Target Consumers With Fake Unclaimed Life Insurance Letters

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #ConsumerAlert, #ConsumerFraud, #ConsumerProtection, #CyberSafety, #FederalTradeCommission, #FinancialFraud, #FraudAlert, #FTC, #IdentityTheft, #InheritanceScam, #InsuranceScam, #LifeInsuranceScam, #northwestgeorgia, #PersonalInformation, #ProtectYourInformation, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #ScamWarning, #UnclaimedLifeInsurance, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Consumers are being warned about a scam involving official-looking letters claiming the recipient may be entitled to millions of dollars in unclaimed life insurance money.

August 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

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

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #ChattoogaCountyVeterans, #ChattoogaInfo, #ChooseVA, #FraudPrevention, #GeorgiaVeterans, #LocalNews, #MilitaryVeterans, #northwestgeorgia, #ScamAlert, #summervillega, #VA, #VAHealthcare, #VeteranCommunity, #VeteranResources, #veterans, #VeteransAffairs, #VeteransBenefits, #VeteransHealthcare, #VeteransResources, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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

July 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville Man Reports Losing More Than $10,000 In Vacation Rental Scam

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A Summerville man reported losing more than $10,000 after falling victim to an apparent vacation rental scam, according to the Summerville Police Department.

Police say 48-year-old Brian Dover reported on July 27 that he and his wife had been communicating with someone claiming to be the owner of a vacation rental property listed on VRBO.

According to the incident report, Dover said he made an initial payment of $10,000, followed by another $500 transfer for the rental. He then traveled to Panama City Beach, Florida, to stay at the property, where he discovered the transaction was fraudulent.

The incident occurred at Dover’s residence on Back Penn Road in Summerville. The case remains under investigation by the Summerville Police Department.

Authorities remind residents to use caution when booking vacation rentals online. Travelers should verify property listings through legitimate rental platforms, avoid sending money outside of official payment systems, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

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 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Corrections Warns Families About Bond And Prison Release Scams

Local News, Local News Items #BondScam, #ChattoogaInfo, #FraudWarning, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfCorrections, #LawEnforcement, #northwestgeorgia, #PhoneScam, #PrisonReleaseScam, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Department of Corrections is warning families across the state about two scams involving false demands for money following an arrest or before an inmate’s release from prison.

In the first scam, callers claim to represent a sheriff’s office and contact the families of people who were recently arrested and released from a county jail. The callers falsely say that additional bond money, court costs or other fees must be paid.

The second scam targets families of people currently incarcerated. In those cases, callers claim to work for a sheriff’s office, probation or parole and falsely state that payment is required before the inmate can be released from prison.

State corrections officials believe the calls are being made by inmates using contraband cell phones.

The Georgia Department of Corrections says legitimate law enforcement agencies, probation officers and parole officers do not demand payment over the phone to secure someone’s release. They also do not require payment through gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency or other immediate payment methods.

Anyone receiving this type of call should not provide personal or financial information. Hang up and contact the sheriff’s office, probation office, parole office or correctional facility directly using an official phone number.

July 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Trion City Schools Warns Businesses About Unauthorized Sponsorship Solicitation

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Trion City Schools is warning local businesses about an unauthorized company that has reportedly been contacting businesses seeking advertising and sponsorships for Trion Middle School homework folders.