FREE VOLUME 24 NUMBER 48
MARCH 1, 2019
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Attorney General: Imposters working in teams in telephone scams Attorney General Chris Carr is again warning the public about scam artists posing as law enforcement and elected officials in an attempt to swindle consumers. The schemes now Attorney General incorporate a team Chris Carr approach and scare tactics to manipulate victims, Carr’s office said in a news release. “No one is immune to these sophisticated schemes,” said Carr. “We encourage citizens to learn more about these scams and then tell their friends and loved ones about them so they know what to look out for.” Victims have reported receiving a call purporting to be from the local police, State Attorney General, Social Security Administration or FBI informing them that their Social Security Number has been linked to drug trafficking and money laundering. The caller tells the victims they will be arrested, unless they fully comply with the caller’s instructions. The scammers often use software to fake or “spoof” the caller ID information so that the legitimate organization’s name and phone number are displayed. A second scammer posing as a different law enforcement or government official will call the victim while he or she is still on the phone with scammer #1 to corroborate the story and advise the victim that he/she may be receiving a call from an FBI agent or police officer. Or, the original scammer may simply say that he is transferring the person to an “FBI agent,” a “lawyer working on the case” or the “Attorney General,” who are actually scammers who proceed to verify the story, even providing phony badge numbers and case file numbers. A scammer then explains that in order for the victim to clear her name and protect her financial assets from the criminals until the case has been settled, she must wire all the money from her bank accounts and retirement accounts to an account that the scammer alleges is controlled by the “Attorney General” or the “FBI.” The scammers will even ask victims to max out their credit cards by purchasing multiple gift cards from Google Play or iTunes and then providing the caller with those gift card numbers and PINs. The scammer stays on the call with the victim the entire time, which is usually several hours. After the scammers have received all the money, they inform the victim that the “criminals” have been caught. They tell the victim that an agent will meet with them the next day to explain the process for getting their money back, and to bring copies of their driver’s license, Social Security card and passport to prove their identity. But of course, there is no meeting, and the victim discovers they have been scammed.
SEE SCAMS page 7
City Manager Michael Harris says goodbye to J.W. Eady, who regularly attends the Stonecrest City Council meetings. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ocgnews.com
Stonecrest’s City Manager Michael Harris departs, accepts appointment in Henry County By Valerie J. Morgan
M
ichael Harris, who has served as the inaugural city manager for the city of Stonecrest, is leaving the city to return to Henry County government where he worked previously. Harris has been appointed to serve as the county’s deputy tax commissioner. His last day with the city of Stonecrest is March 8. He said he would begin his new position sometime in March. Mayor Jason Lary commended Harris for his work with Stonecrest. He praised Jacobs, the firm Stonecrest hired to get the new city up and running,
for selecting Harris to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city. Harris, 53, was appointed by the City Council in May 2017, five months after the city was incorporated on Jan. 1, 2017. Lary said while the city has not yet named a successor to replace Harris, he is confident the city’s operations will continue to run seamlessly with current staff until a permanent replacement is made. “Because I am a full-time mayor and Jacobs is a machinery of quality employees, we will be just fine. I anticipate that the duties and responsibilities of the city will go on without interruption,” said Lary, adding that changes in government
SEE MANAGER page 7
DeKalb hiring for 300 seasonal summer jobs The DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is accepting applications for seasonal summer employment opportunities such as food monitors, camp counselors, recreation assistants and bus drivers. The application deadline is March 29. Applicants must be 18 or older, unless applying for lifeguard or pool manager positions. Lifeguards and pool managers are required to be 16 or older. Proof of current certification from American Red Cross or other nationally-recognized aquatic training programs is required for all aquatic positions. All applicants selected will be required to successfully complete a drug and alcohol screening and criminal background check prior to employment. The pay for the job ranges from $10 to $12 an hour. The parks positions will begin June 3 and end on July 26, 2019. The aquatics program begins on May 25 to Sept. 1, 2019. To view available positions or complete an application, visit https://bit.ly/2Ug8wfe.
U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting across U.S. The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people to assist with the 2020 Census count. A variety of temporary jobs are being offered including census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff and supervisory staff. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security Number and be a U.S.
citizen. The jobs offer weekly pay, competitive pay rates, flexible hours and paid training. Veterans who are claiming preference must also submit documentation of eligibility. Applications must be made online: https://bit. ly/2xhJnHG