Stephens County Sheriff’s Office announces multi-state identity fraud and forgery investigation

Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies recently responded to Mega Motorsports,  located on Big A Road after receiving a 911 call regarding an individual attempting to use an alleged stolen identity.

Once deputies arrived, employees advised that an individual attempted to make an online purchase for one of their All Terrain Vehicles. 

Employees asked the person in an online response to send a photograph of their  identification to validate the purchase. 

Sheriff Randy Shirley says Mega Motors employees were quick to recognize the photograph on the “ID” as being the same photo used on a prior identification card they received a few weeks before. However, the “ID” used on this occasion had a “different name”.  Employees advised sheriff’s deputies that the subject was supposed to come in the next day. Deputies advised employees to contact 911 Dispatch if the individual followed through and showed up.

According the information provided by Shirley, the individual showed up the following day. The sheriff’s office was contacted and a deputy responded. When the deputy made contact with the subject inside Mega Motor Sports, the suspect shoved the deputy out of the way, and fled out the door. 

A deputy saw the male suspect jump into a truck towing a trailer.  By the time deputies ran back to their vehicle to catch the driver, he had already gained a great distance.  Deputies lost sight of the suspect on Rose Lane going in the direction of Liberty Hill Road. Their efforts to catch up to the suspect was to no avail, said Shirley.

Later that day, the sheriff’s office received a phone call of suspicious activity on Jordan Road.  When deputies responded, they observed an abandoned trailer located off the roadway.  Deputies contacted the on call criminal investigations investigator for their assistance. Upon further observation, a stockpile of Georgia licenses, fake passports, and a notebook containing identification data of individuals was discovered. 

Deputies secured the items as evidence, and had the large utility trailer towed to the impound lot at the Jail.  

Further investigation by CID, and with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, investigators were able to identify the suspect as Wardell McClendon, age 33, of Columbus.  

Investigators have procured the following warrants for McClendon:

Six (6) felony counts of identity fraud;

Six (6) felony counts of forgery in the first degree;

One count of obstruction of a law enforcement officer.  

This is an ongoing multi-state investigation, and more charges are likely as investigators attempt to contact additional victims, Shirley said. 

The sheriff’s office would like to caution the community on a growing national multi- billion dollar criminal enterprise where businesses and individuals become victims by scammers and or, those perpetrating fraud.

 

Shirley offers the following information and tips for area citizens:

How identity theft happens

There are several ways that scammers can steal your identity, including in person, online, through social media, and by phone. Scammers may:

  • Steal your wallet or purse to get ID, credit, or bank cards
  • Go through your trash to retrieve bank statements or tax documents
  • Install skimmers at ATM machines, cash registers, and fuel pumps to digitally steal information from your bank card
  • Get personal information from your phone when you use public Wi-Fi
  • Use “phishing” to get information from you through fraudulent email, texts, or phone calls
  • Look through your social media accounts to find identifying information in posts or photos. Or they may ask you for personal information in online quizzes and surveys.

How to protect yourself from identity theft

  • Don’t answer phone calls, texts, social media messages, or email from numbers or people you do not know.
  • Don’t share personal information like your bank account number, Social Security number, or date of birth.
  • Collect your mail every day and place a hold on your mail when you’re on vacation or away from your home for a period of time. 
  • Review credit card and bank account statements. Watch for and report unauthorized or suspicious transactions.
  • Don’t discard your bank statements, or any personal information by throwing the mail into the garbage container. Always guard your personal information. 
  • Understand how ATM skimming works and how to protect yourself
  • Learn when it is safe to use a public Wi-Fi network
  • Store personal information, including your Social Security card, in a safe place. In this day and age, it is best not to carry your SSN in your wallet.

For further information you may contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 706-886-7048 Monday-Friday from 8-5. If no answer you may leave a message and your phone number. After hours you can call Stephens County 911 Dispatch at 706-779-3911 and ask for a deputy or the sheriff to return your call.