Chattanooga, TN – The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office announced that detectives recovered over $200,000 in two separate fraud investigations involving a treasury scam and a romance scam.
In the first case, reported on March 25, 2025, a victim lost $54,000 after being contacted by someone falsely claiming to represent the U.S. Department of Treasury. The scammer convinced the victim to send a $50,000 cashier’s check and $4,000 in gift cards. Detectives tracked the funds to a business front, A+B Wireless Sales, and were able to seize and return the full amount to the victim.
The second case, reported on April 25, 2025, involved a romance scam that began in November 2024. The victim developed an online relationship with a scammer who promised marriage and a new life in Florida. Over several months, the scammer convinced the victim to provide $254,000 through various methods, including Bitcoin, bank and wire transfers, cashier’s checks, and gift cards.
The victim also quit his job, sold his home, and transferred funds into a joint Bitcoin account. When he arrived at the airport expecting to meet the scammer, he discovered no ticket existed and his accounts had been emptied. Detectives were able to locate and seize $150,987.69 from one of the scammer’s accounts, which will be returned to the victim.
Sheriff Austin Garrett commended the work of investigators, stressing the importance of public awareness in preventing these types of scams. He reminded residents that neither the Sheriff’s Office nor any government agency will demand payment by gift cards, Bitcoin, or similar methods. Garrett also noted that common scam tactics include false claims about missed jury duty, unpaid parking tickets, or threats to cancel warrants.
“These two incidents demonstrate that our detectives remain committed to holding accountable those who victimize our residents and threaten the safety of our community,” Garrett said.