A Georgia man allegedly spent months engaged to a female sheriff's deputy he had never met, handing over his car and cash to a suspect police say was actually a man using artificial intelligence and voice-changing technology to maintain the deception.
Background
According to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), 25-year-old Caleb Mills used stolen photographs, multiple telephone numbers, voice-changing technology, and AI to create a fictitious identity named "Hailey Morello." Police allege the persona was designed to "defraud unsuspecting victims" by establishing online relationships.
One victim, whose name has not been publicly released, allegedly believed he was engaged to "Hailey" and exchanged vehicles with Mills, in addition to providing an undisclosed amount of money. Investigators stated that Mills used photos of a real sheriff's deputy in Florida to construct the fake identity.
The victim's family became suspicious and contacted authorities, believing their relative was the target of a "catfishing scheme," as reported by local NBC affiliate WXIA. Relatives allegedly connected Mills to the online persona and attempted to warn the victim, who refused to believe the allegations.
The family's persistent attempts to contact Mills led him to file a harassment claim with police. In a twist of the alleged fraud, Mills reportedly filed the claim while posing as "Hailey," claiming she was being harassed by the victim's family.
The Charges
While investigating the harassment claim, ACCPD detectives uncovered the alleged "catfish" scam. Police discovered that Mills had also posed as a family member of "Hailey" to report the harassment he claimed she was experiencing.
Mills was arrested 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.
Prior to his arrest, Mills allegedly gave investigators the false name "Alex Morello." Police have identified additional victims across multiple states and are continuing to investigate the scope of the alleged fraud.
Key Takeaways
- Caleb Mills, 25, allegedly used AI and voice changers to pose as "Hailey Morello," a fictitious female sheriff's deputy.
- One victim allegedly exchanged cars and cash with Mills after believing they were engaged.
- Mills filed a harassment report posing as "Hailey" after the victim's family tried to expose the scam.
- Charges include identity fraud, impersonating a public officer, and giving false names to law enforcement.
- Police have identified additional victims across multiple states.
What's Next
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is continuing its investigation to determine if there are more victims involved in the alleged scheme. Authorities have urged anyone who believes they may have been defrauded by Mills or similar online scams to contact the ACCPD and file a report.
Court proceedings for Caleb Mills are pending as the investigation into his alleged activities across state lines continues.