Chatham Co. Police: $850K lost to scams

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -One click, one call, one rushed decision — Chatham County police say that’s all it can take for scammers to get your money.

The Chatham County Police Department is launching a scam awareness campaign after officials said scammers have already cost victims nearly $850,000 so far this year. Chief Jeff Hadley said losses topped more than $3 million last year.

Police are using the slogan “Stop. Check. Protect.” in educational materials and community outreach, aiming to help residents recognize scams before they send money or share personal information.

Hadley told WTOC scammers can target anyone, regardless of income level.

“I don’t care who you are, what social economic class you’re in, you can be susceptible to any financial scam,” Hadley said.

Hadley said the losses police track may be higher in reality because not every victim reports what happened, often out of embarrassment. He encouraged anyone who believes they have been scammed to contact law enforcement, saying police are there to help.

According to the department, the “Stop. Check. Protect.” message is designed to interrupt the urgency scammers create and give people time to think. Police say “Stop” means pausing long enough to calm down, “Check” means independently verifying what you’re being told, and “Protect” means guarding your personal and financial information and never giving it out to an unexpected caller or through an unsolicited text or email.

Click here for more information on scams and how to protect yourself.