Henry County police are searching for a man accused of using a short-change scam during a Western Union transaction at a McDonough Kroger.
The incident happened June 19 at the store at 2000 Highway 155 North, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Investigators said the man scammed a cashier out of $1,600 while purchasing a money order. Police are asking the public to help identify him.
The Scam Happened During a Cash Transaction
Henry County police are searching for a man who scammed a grocery store cashier out of $1,600. https://t.co/V0ul9IfAf5
— FOX 5 Atlanta (@FOX5Atlanta) July 18, 2026
FOX 5 Atlanta reported that the case involved a short-change scam, a type of fraud that relies on confusion during a fast-moving exchange of cash.
In those schemes, a person may change the requested amount, swap bills, ask for cash to be counted again, or keep the cashier focused on several parts of the transaction at once. By the time the exchange ends, the drawer can be short even though the mistake happened in plain sight.
Police Released Tip Information
Henry County police asked anyone with information to contact Detective M. Dingess at 770-288-8314. Tips can also be sent to Henry County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 770-957-9121.
Police said people can also text tips, photos, or video to 770-220-7009.
Retail Workers Can Pause a Confusing Exchange
For cashiers, money order purchases and other high-dollar cash transactions should stay controlled from start to finish. Cash should be counted once, kept in view, and not handed back and forth while the customer changes the request.
If a customer becomes rushed, confusing, or argumentative during a cash transaction, the cashier can stop, close the drawer, call a supervisor, and restart the count from the beginning. Stores can also preserve the receipt, transaction number, register records, drawer report, surveillance footage, employee notes, timestamps, and any images of the person or vehicle connected to the exchange.