Scam: Caller Tells Athens Couple They Owed $11,800 to Settle Accident Case

An Athens couple was allegedly scammed out of thousands of dollars after a caller told them they would be arrested if they didn’t pay up for an accident they were involved in three years ago.

According to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department media release, a 59-year-old and his wife received a call on Aug. 8 from someone who claimed to be with the insurance company AIG.

The caller told the couple they owed $11,800 to the other party in a 2011 accident or risked being taken to jail.

“The suspect told them the other party involved in the accident needed extra money for hospital bills,” police said in the release.

The couple was instructed to purchase MoneyPak cards for payment. They agreed to wire the money.

Three days later, they became suspicious when received another call, and called the insurance company. A company rep told the couple their case regarding the accident had been closed.

Police were called on Aug. 13. The case is under investigation.