The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new scam. According to law enforcement, scammers posing as sheriff’s officers call to demand fake bond payments from relatives of incarcerated people.
What We Know: Scammers are reportedly calling family members of inmates, claiming to be a “Mark Townsend” or using a lieutenant title, and telling them they must pay an immediate bond online or over the phone.
The sheriff’s office stressed it never calls to demand or accept payment for any reason.
Scammers often claim the payment is needed to avoid an arrest warrant, resolve missed jury duty, or cover ankle monitor costs.
In Context: According to the sheriff’s office, scammers may use online tools to identify relatives of incarcerated individuals and then use urgency and fear to pressure them into paying.
Sheriff’s offices report similar scams across Georgia, often targeting elderly residents. Earlier this year, the same scam was active in Coweta County.
Take Action: The sheriff’s office advises residents to hang up immediately if they receive such a call and not to give out personal or financial information.
Residents are encouraged to warn elderly relatives, friends, and community members about the scam.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
