Marble man charged in ongoing fraud investigation
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has charged Hayden Rain Moss, 21, of Marble, following an investigation into multiple fraud-related incidents involving vehicle repair services.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division began receiving reports from individuals and businesses who alleged they paid Moss for vehicle repairs that were either not completed or were improperly performed. In several cases, victims reported paying Moss in advance for parts and labor, after which communication ceased and the agreed-upon work was never finished.
The investigation has identified multiple incidents occurring between 2025 and July 2026. Reported losses among victims range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. In each case, Moss allegedly represented himself as a mechanic capable of performing repairs, accepted payment, and failed to deliver the promised services.
Detectives have determined that this pattern of behavior was consistent across multiple reports, indicating an ongoing scheme rather than isolated incidents.
Moss was arrested on July 9, 2026 for three counts of Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretense. Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
Sheriff Chris Wood stated, “We take cases like this seriously. When individuals deliberately deceive members of our community for financial gain, we will work diligently to hold them accountable. I encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim in this case to contact our office.”
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office believes there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 828-837-2589.
Murphy PD warns of scam
The Murphy Police Department reminded the community about a phone scam that has recently been reported in this area.
The Murphy Police Department and neighboring law enforcement agencies will NEVER call you to tell you that you have a warrant and demand payment to resolve it. If you receive a call like this, IT IS A SCAM.
"We have also received reports of scammers claiming that individuals have missed jury duty and must immediately pay a fine to avoid being arrested," the department said in a news release. "If you are summoned for jury duty, you will receive an official summons through the United States Postal Service—not by a phone call, text message, or email demanding payment."
Scammers often use fear and urgency to pressure victims into sending money through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or electronic payment apps. They may even "spoof" a phone number to make it appear that the call is coming from a legitimate law enforcement agency.
If you receive one of these calls:
• Do not provide any personal or financial information.
• Do not send money or purchase gift cards.
• Hang up immediately.
• Contact the Murphy Police Department if you have any questions or are unsure whether the call is legitimate. We are happy to help verify the situation and prevent you from becoming a victim. 828-837-2214.
Law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone to avoid arrest, and jury duty summonses are delivered through the U.S. Postal Service.