Attorney General Warns of New Scams

We always want to alert you to new scams circulating our area and the State.

And now Attorney General Chris Carr is warning the public about yet another new scam where con artists pose as government officials in an attempt to add credibility to their schemes.

Specifically, citizens are reporting that the names and titles of Attorney General Chris Carr and Chief Deputy Dennis Dunn are being used in different fraud schemes.

In one instance, a consumer was contacted by a scammer who was pretending to be Chief Deputy Attorney General Dennis Dunn.

The consumer reported that the fake Dunn said she owed back taxes and would be arrested if she did not pay immediately over the phone.

To prove he was legitimate, the scammer then told her he was Chief Deputy Dennis Dunn, who is an actual employee at the Attorney General’s Office.

In another example, a phony business sent a consumer a letter telling him he had been selected to win a cash prize in a sweepstakes.

The letter indicated that the sweepstakes was “approved” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia, and it included alleged “signatures” of FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Christopher Carr.

When the consumer contacted the business to collect his prize, he was told he had to pay various fees in order to receive his winnings.

“We are hoping this alert serves as a warning that no one is immune from scammers who are now using intricate schemes in order to gain the confidence of their victims,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “The best way to fight back against them is to understand their methods and spot the warning signs before it is too late. Our Consumer Protection Unit will remain vigilant in rooting out these con artists, and we urge you to sign up for our alerts and encourage friends and family to do the same.”

The Attorney General’s Office does not endorse sweepstakes, nor does it collect debts owed to the IRS.

Carr said if someone contacts you about owing money to the government or receiving a prize in exchange for a fee, just hang up.