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July 29, 2026

Georgia Officials Urge Consumers To Watch For Common Scam Warning Signs

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #ConsumerProtection, #CyberSafety, #FraudPrevention, #GeorgiaAttorneyGeneral, #GeorgiaConsumers, #IdentityTheft, #ScamAlert, #StayAlert, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

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.

April 13, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Tax Season Scams On The Rise As April 15 Deadline Approaches

Local News, Local News Items #April15, #CommunityAlert, #ConsumerProtection, #FinancialSafety, #FraudPrevention, #georgianews, #IdentityTheft, #IRSScams, #NorthGeorgia, #OnlineSafety, #PersonalFinance, #PhishingScams, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #StayAlert, #TaxDeadline, #TaxScams, #TaxSeason, #wzqznews 0

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.

April 1, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Tax Commissioner Warns Residents About DMV Text Scam

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerProtection, #CyberSafety, #DMVScam, #FraudAlert, #joyhampton, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #ProtectYourInfo, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #ScamWarning, #StayAlert, #summervillega, #TaxCommissioner, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

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 30, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Pedestrian Struck In Summerville Intersection Crash

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A pedestrian was injured Thursday evening following a vehicle accident at a busy Summerville intersection.

According to the crash report, the incident occurred around 6:43 PM on March 26th at the intersection of Rome Boulevard and Lyerly Highway.

Authorities say a pickup truck driven by a 61-year-old Lyerly man, identified as Carlton Battles, was traveling north on Rome Boulevard and was turning left onto Lyerly Highway when the collision occurred.

The pedestrian, a 28-year-old Summerville woman, identified as Derrian Baker, was walking north along the sidewalk and entered the crosswalk to cross Lyerly Highway while traffic was stopped at a red light.

Investigators say the driver reported that sun glare obstructed his vision, and he did not see the pedestrian until the moment of impact. A witness at the scene told officers the pedestrian was clearly within the crosswalk when she was struck.

Police say the woman was hit by the vehicle’s side mirror and knocked to the ground. She was transported by EMS to Floyd Hospital with complaints of pain to her right foot and ankle.

Battles was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, according to the report that was released to WZQZ on Friday afternoon.

March 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Sheriff Warns Of Email Scam Targeting Residents

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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.