(Image source from: Tripwire)

The secretary of state's Charities Division has warned Georgians to be on the lookout for multiple websites that have been established by bad actors posing as a nonprofit called the "Atlanta Human Rights Foundation."

An emergency cease has been issued and desist order aimed at the fraudulent, non-existent group, by the secretary.

The Secretary of State Brian Kemp said: "It is beyond shameful that con artists would set up a fake entity in the name of human rights when their real objective is stealing money and taking advantage of charitable donors."

Kemp is on the job with Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, the Federal Trade Commission, and law enforcement agencies to shut down the illegal activity.

According to documents reviewed by the secretary of state's office, scammers invited non-native English speakers from overseas to a fictitious "AHRF World Conference" in Atlanta, hosted by the "Atlanta Human Rights Foundation" at a "Norwich Hotel" purportedly located on Marietta Street.

In the correspondence, the "Atlanta Human Rights Foundation" offered to cover round-trip airfare and provide visa assistance, but actually sought to steal money by asking for payments via wire transfers to reserve lodging accommodations. The Atlanta Human Rights Foundation, AHRF 2018 World Conference, and Norwich Hotel Downtown Atlanta do not exist.

By Sowmya Sangam