AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Friday, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning to the public regarding a phone scam targeting the Augusta community.

The sheriff’s office says scammers are using tactics, including spoofing phone numbers to appear as if they are calling from the sheriff’s office, court services and other services.

The current scam involves callers impersonating sheriff’s office employees, demanding payment for services such as release from detention, electronic monitoring or other fees, according to deputies.

The sheriff’s office says in a recent case, a scammer posing as “Sgt. John Lewis” demanded over $300 for a leg monitor. The scammer later requested additional funds, directing the victim to provide payment via a bar code at a retail store.

The phone number, 706-821-1000, which is the official Richmond County Sheriff’s Office line, was spoofed during the scam to lend credibility to the fraudulent calls, deputies say.

Key reminders to avoid being scammed:

• The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says they will never demand payment over the phone.
• If you receive a call that seems suspicious, hang up immediately and contact the agency or business directly by looking up the official number on their website.
• Avoid providing money or personal information to unknown individuals, especially when payment methods involve gift cards, bar codes, wire transfers, debit cards or other non-traditional methods.

The sheriff’s office says to report the scam immediately to local law enforcement.

For questions or to report suspicious activity, contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1000.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We got an inside look at Augusta’s newest grocery store, FreshTake.

It’s located next to the Outback Steakhouse on Washington Road, where Whole Foods used to be.

FreshTake touts itself as an elevated shopping experience with a focus on fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

There is a butcher shop, seafood counter, specialty food stations like sushi, pizza, pasta, juices and smoothies and a Starbucks coffee shop located inside the store.

There’s also a beer and wine bar inside the grocery store and a BBQ smoker outside.

“I always wanted to have a store that had an abundance of food service offerings on one side just like you see here. I’m super happy and excited I was able to bring this to the Augusta community to enjoy,” said Jackson Mitchell, CEO of FreshTake.

FreshTake opens its doors to the public on Monday at 10 a.m. for its soft opening with a grand opening set for January 30.

The store tells us it is also committed to ensuring no food goes to waste and is partnering with Golden Harvest Food Bank.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Self-driving cars are no longer a futuristic concept; they’re on the roads today. One might have passed you on the way to work.

But what if you don’t want to buy a brand-new car to experience this technology? The Comma 3X device and Openpilot software offer a solution, turning your existing car into a self-driving vehicle.

How Does it Work?

The Comma 3X connects to your car’s safety features, such as lane assistance and adaptive cruise control. It uses cameras to monitor the road and the driver, and the Openpilot software takes control of the car’s steering, acceleration, and braking.

“It’ll never jerk the wheel,” said Comma’s Adeeb Shihadeh at CES 2025. “The system is best at, you get on the highway click the engage button on your steering wheel and you sit back and you watch it.”

Users have uploaded dozens of videos to YouTube of Comma and Openpilot on their commutes and on long drives on the interstate.

“You can let the system just run on the highway for hours without intervention,” Shihadeh said. “We have experimental mode with red lights, stop signs. We have a lot of users driving around with that. They drive in the city and they’re really happy with that.”

Comma’s “chill mode” is best for anyone not quite ready for a device to take over all of the driving.

How safe is it?

Shihadeh says he believes it’s actually safer than a human behind the wheel making all of the decisions.

“We have lots of data that shows that driving with open pilot does change the driver a bit and you end up being a more attentive driver. And it’s really interesting because you don’t know when you’re distracted. It’ll beep and say, ‘hey, look at the road and it keeps escalating from there,” he said.

The Comma device can be installed easily by users and there are many helpful videos and instructions available on YouTube. There are also active communities of Openpilot drivers on Reddit and Discord.

Features and Benefits

• Lane Keeping: The system helps keep your car centered in its lane, reducing the risk of drifting.
• Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a safe following distance from the car ahead, adjusting speed as needed.
• Driver Monitoring: A camera inside the car ensures the driver stays attentive. If the driver’s eyes wander, the system issues a warning and can even slow the car down.
• User-Friendly: The device is easy to install and use, and the software is regularly updated with new features and improvements.
• Affordability: At $1,000, it’s a more affordable option than buying a new self-driving car.

Safety and Reliability

Comma boasts that users have logged over 100 million miles with Openpilot, and the software is constantly being refined.

The driver monitoring system helps ensure safety by keeping the driver engaged. However, it’s important to remember that the driver is still responsible for the car and must be ready to take control at any time.

Openpilot works with over 275 car models. You can check the Comma website to see if your car is compatible.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.