CLARKESVILLE -- Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell issued an urgent reminder Thursday, asking county residents not to fall for the current telephone scam affecting the county.
"We do not call and say you can pay a fine over the phone," Terrell said by phone. "The FBI doesn't, the GBI doesn't, the IRS doesn't -- law enforcement doesn't."
Terrell said the scammer is telling those called he or she represents the Habersham County Sheriff's Office and that someone in the household is facing a warrant or didn't show up for jury duty, then demanding payment.
The caller informs the citizen of a fine amount that can be paid to have the warrant dismissed, then provides instructions that require the resident to remain on the phone while driving to the nearest store selling Green Dot cards, make a purchase of Green Dot cards in the specified amount, and then provide the card number information over the telephone to the caller.
They then instruct the resident to take the Green Dot cards and the receipt for the cards to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office or the Habersham County Clerk of Court to show proof of payment, according to Terrell.
"We don't require Green Dot Cards, Walmart cards, or Western Union cards," Terrell said. "Law enforcement doesn't operate that way."
If the scammer is not able to speak with a person on his or her first attempt, a call-back number is left. The call-back number provided midday Thursday was (706) 843-4066.
Upon calling that number, callers receive a fake message allegedly from the sheriff's office providing several options. All options lead to the same individual or individuals perpetrating the scam, according to Terrell.
"If we have a warrant on someone, a deputy will come to the individual’s residence and personally serve the warrant and arrest the individual," Terrell said. "They will be visited by a person, not called on the phone."
Any Habersham County resident who receives a call believed to be a part of this scam is asked to contact their local city or county law enforcement agency immediately, providing a detailed report, including the phone number and name of the person who contacted them.
Late Thursday night, the sheriff's office issued an update, stating the scammer has spoofed the Habersham County Sheriff's Office telephone number, meaning it could show up on Caller I.D. as the sheriff's office at (706) 839-0500.
Anyone who receives a questionable call from that telephone number should hang up immediately. They can then dial (706) 839-0500, ext. 0, and speak with the dispatcher.
Terrell asks residents to contact friends and family members, especially those without social media, to warn them of the scam so they don't lose their hard-earned money to a scammer.
