OAKWOOD - A Flowery Branch woman has been arrested in connection to a phone scam in Oakwood.
According to Investigator Todd Templeton with the Oakwood Police, 46-year-old Linda Alice Morgan was charged with three counts of false statements by telephone solicitor and two counts of impersonation a public employee.
Morgan reportedly told businesses in the area that she was raising money for a family - sometimes the police chief's daughter - that had lost everything, including the family dog, in a fire, according to Templeton. Templeton said Morgan contacted three businesses, one of July 13 and two others on July 31.
Templeton says Morgan told the first business, Curt's Cafeteria in Oakwood, that she worked for Regions Bank and was raising money on behalf of Hopewell Baptist Church. They gave her a donation in early July, and the she returned to the restaurant on July 13 for another donation, apparently stating that God will bless the business more if the business donated again and that their donation was tax deductible . The owner of the business became suspicious .
Later in the month, Morgan reportedly contacted Smoke House BBQ, claiming to be an employee of Flowery Branch City Hall and that she was raising money for the Police Chief's daughter, who had lost everything in a fire. The business told they would contact Morgan later.
That same day, July 31, Templeton said Morgan contacted Papa Sam's Sandwich Shop, again claiming to be a City Hall employee raising money for the same cause. The business agreed to donate but became suspicious and contacted the city halls of both Flowery Branch and Oakwood. They contacted Oakwood Police but Templeton said Morgan fled before officers arrived. The business did get her license plate number, leading to her identification.
Templeton said since the investigation began, other businesses in Flowery Branch, Gainesville and Hall County have reported Morgan contacted them as well, and those cases were turned over to the appropriate jurisdiction.
