Savannah Mayor & Sheriff Bust Scammers in Disguise
- — A recent series of scams targeting chatham County residents prompted an unusual response: the mayor went undercover.
- The scammers, according to Coleman, were demanding cash from residents to avoid jail time. "Reports surfaced that supposed members of the Sheriff’s office were demanding cash in exchange...
- The investigation began after a constituent alerted Johnson to a suspicious call.
Savannah Mayor Van johnson took on an undercover mission to expose a local scam targeting Chatham county residents, partnering with Sheriff Richard Coleman to catch impersonators.This operation, prompted by reports of individuals falsely claiming to be sheriff’s deputies and demanding cash, saw Mayor Johnson acting as a potential victim. he skillfully navigated teh scammer’s demands and, with the Sheriff’s support, helped to identify a suspect. The investigation continues, emphasizing the importance of verifying suspicious communications.News Directory 3 can confirm the city is committed to protecting its citizens. Discover what’s next as authorities work to bring the perpetrators to justice and safeguard the community from fraudulent activity.
Savannah Mayor’s Undercover Role Helps Expose Local Scam
Updated June 4, 2025
Savannah, Ga. — A recent series of scams targeting chatham County residents prompted an unusual response: the mayor went undercover. Mayor Van Johnson teamed up with Chatham County sheriff Richard Coleman to investigate individuals impersonating sheriff’s department employees.
The scammers, according to Coleman, were demanding cash from residents to avoid jail time. “Reports surfaced that supposed members of the Sheriff’s office were demanding cash in exchange for avoiding jail time,” coleman saeid. “Naturally, this was alarming because soliciting money is something we absolutely do not do here.”
The investigation began after a constituent alerted Johnson to a suspicious call. The scammer, posing as a member of the sheriff’s office, contacted the constituent. Johnson than called the scammer himself.
“One of my young constituents called and asked me about this call they received, with an individual identifying himself as a member of the Sheriff’s office,” Johnson said. “I called the individual back, and this individual talked to me.He told me exactly what it was I needed to do. I thought this was hilarious.”
johnson then contacted Coleman, leading to the undercover operation. Johnson, acting as a potential victim, was instructed to purchase money cards at a walmart on Montgomery Cross Road. Coleman positioned himself in the parking lot to ensure Johnson’s safety.
The scammer then asked johnson for the numbers on the back of the card, claiming it was for a “quality control check.” Johnson refused. “He asked me for the number off the back of the card. I’m like ‘why would I give you the number off the back of the card? Well, we have to do a quality control check to make sure the card was okay. Once we do that, then you can go to the Sheriff’s office.’ I said I’m not doing that,” Johnson said. “Once I pushed back, he said he was going to put me in prison.”
The investigation into this scam and the suspect’s potential role remains ongoing, according to Coleman. He urged residents to verify any questionable documents or information they receive.