Multiple Savannah residents have been contacted by scammers posing as members of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office with an intimidating message: Pay between $2,000 and $50,000 to avoid jail time.
Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman said he has compiled evidence that scammers are targeting residents via phone calls, text messages and sending alleged photocopied court documents in the mail.
“It first came to my attention a few weeks ago, when people were saying that members of the Sheriff’s Office were asking for money,” Coleman said. “Of course, that raised a red flag because we don’t ask for money here at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.”
Then, the scammers made a mistake, he said. They called Savannah Mayor Van Johnson with the same threat. While on the phone with the scammer, Johnson reached out to Coleman and surreptitiously added him to the call.
Next, the two decided they would conduct a sting.