Dalton police seek 2 men in widespread scam

DALTON — The Dalton Police Department has warrants for the arrest of Annise Timte Smith and Howard Terez Fuller, both from the Atlanta metro area, on charges related to a “quick change” scam that ripped off area stores of cash after the suspects tricked a cashier into giving an incorrect amount of change from a purchase.

An investigation showed the pair tried the scam multiple times while in Dalton and they are suspected of perpetrating the same scam at other stores during a three-day period along the I-75 corridor between Atlanta and Illinois.

Now investigators are looking for other businesses that may have been victimized.

The incidents in Dalton took place on Oct. 9. After the Dalton Police Department issued a press release on Oct. 12 about a similar scam that took place in the area.

While investigating these incidents, Dalton investigators saw a bulletin posted on a national crime intelligence service from police in Effingham, Illinois, alerting law enforcement that two men from the Atlanta area had been arrested there on Oct. 11 after performing the same scam at five Dollar General stores in their area.

After confirming that the men in custody in Illinois were also the men suspected in Dalton, investigators reported the men attempted the scam at around 15 other stores in the area.

Both men bonded out in Illinois, and Fuller was later arrested in Rockdale County and is awaiting being brought to Whitfield County.

Because the pair traveled from Atlanta to the Effingham area between Oct. 9 and their arrest on Oct. 11, investigators believe they could have pulled the same scam numerous times in other cities along the I-75 corridor.

Dalton investigators are asking anyone who believes they may have been victims of the same scam, particularly at Dollar General and CVS stores, to contact Detective Brian Shirley at 706-278-9085, ext. 9189.

The Dalton Daily Citizen