Georgia Child Support Scam Alert

October 2, 2007
ATLANTA (GA) – The Department of Human Resources (DHR) Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) along with the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) would like to alert the public of a child support collecting company that is allegedly engaged in fraudulent practices in Georgia. According to OCA, a company named Child Support Services of Georgia is contacting non custodial parents to set up child support payments. Once contacted, consumers believe that they are in contact with the official State of Georgia, Office of Child Support Services when in fact they are being contacted by a company that has no affiliation with this Office. Allegedly, once those payments are made, the company pockets the money and the custodial parent doesn’t receive a penny.
"It is important the public is ma de aware of this possible scam that takes money out of the hands of deserving Georgian citizens" says OCSS Acting Director Keith Horton. "OCSS is the only official state support collection agency within Georgia and we have not authorized anyone to collect funds on our behalf. We take this type of allegation seriously and we will ensure that all reported activities are properly investigated and prosecuted to the fullest letter of the law."
According to the OCA, Child Support Services of Georgia has misrepresented themselves by advertising their location as Atlanta; however the company is physically located and operated out of Florida. They are also misrepresenting their affiliation to OCSS by claiming to collect funds on behalf of OCSS. After being contacted by Child Support Services of Georgia, consumers enter into written contracts with the company and are then charged significant fees and surcharges. After the company allegedly fails to deposit the collected payments into consumer’s accounts, consumers then experience difficulties in canceling their contracts.
OCSS and Child Support Services of Georgia are in no way affiliated. If you have been victimized by this company, please contact the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-869-1123 or 404-651-8600.