Police Chief warns of possible scam-artists going door-to-door

A new scam circulating in and around Stephens County has residents handing over their personal bank information.

According to Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize, on April 29, a Toccoa Officer responded to a suspicious-persons call at Maka Way near Round Tree.

Upon arrival the officer spoke with Craig Carlton Trautman out of Lawrenceville.

Trautman said he was selling cleaning supplies, door-to-door, at both businesses and at some homes; however, while speaking with the officer, Trautman produced several papers showing a business in the Atlanta area, but, when asked about a door-to-door sales license, the suspect was unable to produce one.

Mize said that the officer advised Trautman to exit the subdivision at that time and not to return until he had a proper business license to operate in the City of Toccoa.

Mize adds that in these types of cases, 4- or 5-people are brought to an area and dropped out in the neighborhoods for the door-to-door sales while the driver or the “Handler” waits to pick them up later.

Most times this is a ploy to get personal bank information.

Mize is advising that if someone does come to your door in this manner, always ask for their I.D. and sales license.

He says “don’t give out any personal information and contact the Police Department.”

Trautman did vacate to another location to be picked up from one of his company drivers.