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Written by: A. Smith
Published January 7, 2026 @ 1:00 PM ET
COWETA COUNTY, Ga. – A Coweta County teenager has been charged with theft by deception after investigators say she scammed thousands of dollars in child support payments from her former boyfriend by falsely claiming he was the father of a baby.
The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office said 18-year-old Brya Hardy was arrested after an investigation determined she had collected about $7,000 from her ex-boyfriend under the pretense that he owed child support for a child she claimed was his.
According to investigators, the ex-boyfriend contacted the sheriff’s office in December and reported that Hardy had approached him and demanded child support for a baby she said they shared. Believing the claim, the man agreed to make payments and ultimately sent Hardy thousands of dollars, authorities said.
As investigators looked into the situation, they determined that the child was not biologically related to the victim. Further investigation revealed the child was not Hardy’s either, according to the sheriff’s office.
Hardy was taken into custody around the New Year and charged with theft by deception. Investigators said they are making the arrest public to warn others in the community and to determine whether Hardy may have targeted additional victims using similar claims.
The sheriff’s office has not released details about how Hardy allegedly carried out the scheme or the identity of the child involved. Information about Hardy’s bond status and court date was not immediately available.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a similar scam is encouraged to contact the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.