Georgia DNR officials encourage anglers to purchase fishing licenses from the state website and beware of scammer sites that may try to take personal information. (Photo: Georgia DNR)
Buying a fishing license shouldn't involve a scam website, but Georgia officials have identified one that anglers should avoid.
The Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division has identified at least one site it says is a "scam license website" active in north Georgia and on the state's long coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.
It's easy to type in "fishing license" for a state and come up with different results. But double-checking to make certain any site is the official state licensing website is the best decision.
Georgia's blessed to have ample freshwater fishing, great trout streams in its northern region and saltwater opportunities along the coast. From bream to trout and bass to salty species, it's a big state with lots of diversity.
But if you plan to fish there, or in any state, make sure about any site before buying a license.
Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division officials say the scam website appears as an advertisement during a Google Search for “Georgia Fishing License.” The site then allows you to enter your personal information, such as name, date of birth, social security number, drivers license number, phone number, email address and residential address.
Here's a key thing Georgia DNR says to not overlook: The site gathers your info, but never asks for payment for the license.
Officials say the website appears to have been created outside the United States. The Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division is working to get the site shut down.
Officials say if you or anyone you know of has provided personal information to this site, contact the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division’s Investigative Unit at (770) 918-6408. Anyone who may have provided information to this website also should file a police report with their local agency and monitor/freeze their credit.
The only legitimate place to purchase a hunting and fishing license online in the State of Georgia is at www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com.
Georgia isn't the only state with such a fishing scam issue, either, according to newschannel9.com in Chattanooga. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is reporting an identical scam situation, too.
