South Carolina Man Arrested After Georgia Man Duped Into Fake AI Engagement

A Georgia man spent months believing he was engaged to a female sheriff’s deputy he had never met, only to discover the persona was entirely fabricated by a 25-year-old South Carolina man, according to local authorities.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is actively investigating the catfishing operation, which involved using fictitious photos and identities to defraud unsuspecting victims out of money and property.

Caleb Mills, 25, of South Carolina, was arrested on July 20, 2026, on charges of identity fraud involving fictitious identifying information, impersonating a public officer, giving a false name to law enforcement, and two counts of making false statements in a government matter.

Investigators say Mills built the fake online persona “Hailey Morello” using stolen photographs of a real Florida sheriff’s deputy, artificial intelligence, voice-changing technology, and multiple phone numbers.

One Georgia victim believed he was in a legitimate relationship with Morello, sending cash and even swapping vehicles with Mills.

The victim’s family grew suspicious that their relative had fallen prey to an online scam. After linking the online profile back to Mills, family members attempted to warn the man, but he refused to believe them. When relatives repeatedly contacted Mills to intervene, Mills filed a harassment complaint with the police while posing as a relative of Morello.

That report triggered a police investigation that quickly unraveled the scheme. Officers noted that Mills gave investigators the fake name “Alex Morello” before being taken into custody.

“Mills allegedly used photos taken from women’s social media accounts to create fake identities and accounts … to establish online relationships with victims,” the department stated. “Detectives have identified additional victims across multiple states.”

Investigators believe there may be additional victims tied to the multi-state scheme.

“As technology and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, online scams and catfishing schemes can become increasingly sophisticated,” the ACCPD release stated. “If you believe you may be a victim of this investigation or any other fraudulent activity, please contact the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and file a report.”

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Article Source: South Carolina Man Arrested After Georgia Man Duped Into Fake AI Engagement, Police Say – Tampa Free Press