Counterfeit bills found in Cherokee, Etowah counties

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Friday, May 24th, 2013, 4:35pm

Gadsden police recovered $1,421 in fake bills during a sweep of area businesses on May 23. Source: Gadsden Police Department

ETOWAH COUNTY, AL (WBRC)- More than $1,400 in counterfeit bills have been recovered in east Alabama, where the fake money has been circulated in at least two counties.

After getting several reports of counterfeit cash, Gadsden police officers in the Property Unit swept local businesses to collect any fake bills that were in use on Thursday, May 23.

Police gathered a total of $1,421 in counterfeit bills from the businesses. Sgt. Patrick Chumley said the purpose of the sweep was two-fold:

1. To keep counterfeit money from being re-circulated back to the public

2. To educate store personnel of how important turning in counterfeit money is to an ongoing investigation

Gadsden police also responded to the Jet Pep on South 11th Street on May 17 after an employee noticed a woman was trying to pass a fake $10. The employee kept the fake bill and the woman inside the store until police arrived.

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Piedmont man killed in early morning wreck

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Friday, May 24th, 2013, 3:06pm

PIEDMONT, AL (WBRC)- State troopers have released the identity of a man killed in a single vehicle wreck in Calhoun County early this morning.

Troopers identify the victim as Alfred L. Mayse II, a 29-year-old from Piedmont. He was the driver of a 2002 Pontiace Grand Am that wrecked around 4 a.m. Friday, May 24.

The wreck happened about a mile south of Piedmont on AL 21 in Calhoun County. Troopers say the vehicle ran off the road into a ditch.

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Alabama Power warns customers of bill scam

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Wednesday, May 22nd, 11:08 pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Alabama Power is warning customers about a phone scam.

Officials say someone is calling customers, telling them their power will be shut off at a certain time if they don't pay. The customers are told to go an buy a reloadable debit card and are given a deadline to pay. When the customer buys the card and calls back with the information, the card is quickly emptied.

Alabama Power officials say, unfortunately, some people have already been duped.

"The thing we want to remind our customers is: that's not the way we do business. If you have every have any question...hang up the phone and call [the utility company]," Ike Pigott said.

If you have questions about your power bill or you've received a scam call like this you are encouraged to call Alabama Power at 1-800-245-2244. Read more about avoiding scams on the Alabama Power news page.

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Six tips to bombproof your password

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Saturday, May 18th, 8:29 am

By Geoff Duncan
Provided by

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Etowah Co. escaped inmate captured

Submitted by Nate Hall on Friday, May 17th, 11:21 pm

Justin Wade Hopkins (Photo: Etowah County Sheriff's Office)

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- The Etowah County Sheriff's Office says they have captured an inmate kitchen worker who escaped early Friday morning.

According to the Sheriff's Office, 30-year-old Justin Wade Hopkins of Collinsville escaped from the Etowah County Detention Center shortly after 4 a.m. May 17. He was seen running toward Tuscaloosa Avenue.

Hopkins was found thanks in part to a citizen's tip.

Hopkins was being detained on theft and burglary charges.

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Absolutely Alabama preview: Aprons, berries, a garden and saloon

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 3:37pm

Photos and captions by Fred Hunter

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MAPCO hacking may be linked to Calhoun Co. identity thefts

Submitted by Dixon Hayes, Fox 6 News Reporter, East Alabama Bureau

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 7:08pm

CALHOUN COUNTY, AL (WBRC)- Calhoun County's sheriff says his agency took more than a hundred identity theft reports that appear to be linked to the third party hacking of the debit and credit card system at the MAPCO convenience store chain.

MAPCO's corporate office issued a news release May 6 saying there was a security breach at many of its stores in seven states, and that credit and debit card information may have been breached. The statement says the stolen credit/debit card information may have been used in other transactions.

MAPCO's statement says the hacking apparently took place around March 19-25, April 14-15 and April 20-21.

Sheriff Larry Amerson tells Fox6 News his agency started taking identity theft reports weeks before the announcement from MAPCO.

"We've probably taken a hundred of those reports here," said Amerson. "There were so many, and there were other agencies taking them, that the Secret Service got involved.

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