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Alpharetta police warns of fake cop stealing money

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police are warning people to be alert for a scammer posing as an officer in order to steal money.

Police said the man has called people in nearby Roswell and Johns Creek, claiming to be an Alpharetta police traffic lieutenant collecting fines for unpaid red light violations.

“If someone calls for your personal information, odds are it’s a scam” said Alpharetta Public safety Spokesperson George Gordon.

Channel 2's Mike Petchenik spoke to one would-be victim by phone, but he didn't want to be identified.

The man told Petchenik the person called, claiming his wife had an unpaid fine from a December red light infraction and was being held in contempt of court. The man said the caller gave him the name of someone he later learned is an actual Alpharetta police officer. The would-be victim told Petchenik he ended the conversation before the caller told him where to send money.

Gordon said another call to Johns Creek was recorded on a voicemail.

"The voicemail from the scammer indicated that you need to pay this or we're gonna send somebody to you to collect," he said. "The red-light traffic citations that are issued in our city come from a private vendor company who runs that camera system. They would be contacted directly by the vendor and not by us."

Gordon said it's concerning to officers that someone is using the real name of a traffic lieutenant.

"We want to find those responsible for this so we can file the appropriate charges and take action," he said.