Who Is Caleb Mills? Catfishing Arrest And Fake Fiancée Scheme

Caleb Jonquay Mills is a 25-year-old man from Taylors, South Carolina, accused of carrying out a multi-state catfishing scheme using fake female identities, stolen social-media photographs, artificial intelligence and voice-changing technology. Athens-Clarke County Police say one Georgia victim came to believe he was engaged to a woman named “Hailey Morello,” whom Mills allegedly created using photographs belonging to a real female sheriff’s deputy in Florida. The alleged deception unraveled when police asked the victim to call his supposed fiancée and Mills’ phone rang in front of an officer. Mills was arrested on July 20, 2026, on charges including identity fraud, impersonating a public officer, giving a false name and making false statements.

Caleb Mills Catfishing Investigation

Police Say Mills Used Fake Online Identities To Defraud Victims. Athens-Clarke County Police say Mills created fictitious personas using photographs taken from women’s social-media accounts and used those identities to establish online relationships. [FOX 5 Atlanta] [WSB-TV]

One Of The Fake Identities Was Named “Hailey Morello.” Investigators say that persona became central to the relationship with a Georgia man who believed Morello was a real woman. [WYFF] [WBTV]

Fake Florida Sheriff’s Deputy

Police Say Mills Used Photographs Of A Real Female Florida Sheriff’s Deputy. The images allegedly came from the woman’s personal Facebook account and were used to create the “Hailey Morello” identity. [People] [WBTV]

The Victim Allegedly Believed Morello Was A Law-Enforcement Officer. Mills is accused of presenting the fictional woman as a sheriff’s deputy, helping make the identity appear legitimate. [People]

AI And Voice-Changing Technology

Investigators Say Mills Used Voice-Changing Technology To Maintain The Fake Identity. The alleged technology allowed him to communicate with victims while presenting himself as a woman. [WBTV] [Law & Crime]

Police Also Say Artificial Intelligence Was Used As Part Of The Deception. Authorities have cited AI along with multiple phone numbers, stolen photographs and altered voices as tools allegedly used to sustain the fake personas. [WBTV]

Victim Believed He Was Engaged

One Georgia Man Believed He Was Engaged To “Hailey Morello.” Police say the relationship developed over months even though the man had never met his supposed fiancée in person. [People] [WRDW]

The Victim Allegedly Sent Money During The Relationship. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the total amount he transferred. [People]

He Also Allowed Mills To Use His Vehicle. Police say the alleged scheme became so convincing that the victim exchanged vehicles with Mills while believing Mills was connected to his fiancée. [WRDW] [Law & Crime]

Victim’s Family Becomes Suspicious

The Victim’s Relatives Began Questioning The Relationship. Reporting based on the police investigation says family members became suspicious because he had never actually met the woman he believed he planned to marry. [People]

The Family Began Conducting Its Own Investigation. Their attempts to determine whether “Hailey Morello” existed allegedly created increasing tension surrounding the online relationship. [People]

Fake Harassment Complaint

Police Say Mills Contacted Authorities While Pretending To Be “Hailey Morello.” He allegedly reported that the victim’s relatives were harassing her. [WRDW] [WBTV]

Investigators Say Mills Also Posed As The Victim During Communications With Police. The alleged attempts to manipulate the investigation helped draw law-enforcement attention to inconsistencies in the story. [People]

Police Find Mills With Victim’s Car

An Officer Went To The Victim’s Apartment On July 20. Police were investigating the increasingly suspicious circumstances surrounding the harassment complaint and the supposed fiancée. [People]

The Officer Saw The Victim’s Vehicle Arrive At The Apartment. Instead of the victim or the supposed “Hailey Morello,” police say Mills got out of the vehicle. [Front Page Detectives]

Mills Allegedly Gives Police A Fake Name

Police Say Mills Identified Himself As “Alex Morello.” When questioned by the officer, he allegedly gave a false name and claimed Caleb Mills was his brother. [Front Page Detectives]

He Was Detained After Allegedly Providing False Information. The officer then contacted the actual victim to ask who had possession of his vehicle. [Front Page Detectives]

Phone Call Exposes Alleged Scheme

The Victim Told Police His Fiancée Had His Vehicle. He still apparently believed “Hailey Morello” was a real woman at that point. [People]

The Officer Asked The Victim To Call Morello. As the victim placed the call, Mills’ cellphone allegedly began ringing in front of the officer. [People] [Front Page Detectives]

The Victim’s Photograph Allegedly Appeared On Mills’ Phone Under The Name “Hubbs.” Police say that discovery provided further evidence tying Mills to the fictitious relationship. [People]

Police Told The Victim He Had Allegedly Been Catfished. The man was described in the police report as being in shock after learning the woman he intended to marry allegedly did not exist. [People]

Mills May Have Stayed Inside Victim’s Apartment

Investigators Suspect Mills May Have Secretly Been Inside The Victim’s Home. Reporting based on the investigation says police developed evidence suggesting Mills may have occupied or entered the apartment while the victim believed his fiancée was elsewhere. [People]

Caleb Mills Arrest

Athens-Clarke County Police Arrested Mills On July 20, 2026. Police say the arrest resulted from their investigation into the fictitious identities and alleged fraud. [FOX 5 Atlanta]

Mills Is From Taylors, South Carolina. Current reporting identifies him as 25 years old. [FOX Carolina]

Charges Against Caleb Mills

Mills Is Charged With Identity Fraud Involving Fictitious Identifying Information. Police allege he used invented identities to obtain money, property or other benefits from victims. [Front Page Detectives]

He Is Also Charged With Impersonating A Public Officer. That allegation stems from the fake law-enforcement identity used in the alleged scheme. [Athens Banner-Herald]

Mills Faces A Charge Of Giving A False Name To Law Enforcement. Police allege he initially identified himself as someone other than Caleb Mills. [Front Page Detectives]

He Also Faces Two Counts Of Making False Statements In A Government Matter. Those allegations concern false information investigators say was provided to authorities. [Front Page Detectives]

Released On Bond

Mills Was Released On Bond Following His Arrest. Current reporting says he is no longer being held in the Clarke County jail. [WRDW] [WBTV]

The Public Reports Reviewed Do Not Provide A Confirmed Bond Amount.

Police Say Alleged Fraud Continued

Authorities Say Mills Continued Fraudulent Activity After His Release. Current reporting citing investigators says alleged fraudulent conduct continued after Mills posted bond. [WRDW] [WBTV]

Police Say Additional Charges Are Possible. Investigators continue reviewing the alleged activity and identifying other potential victims. [WRDW]

Additional Victims In Multiple States

Investigators Have Identified Additional Alleged Victims. Athens-Clarke County Police say the investigation has expanded beyond the original Georgia victim. [WSB-TV]

Police Say The Potential Victims Are Located In Multiple States. Authorities have not publicly identified the total number of victims or all of the states involved. [WSB-TV] [FOX 5 Atlanta]

Total Alleged Losses Not Yet Known

Police Have Not Announced A Total Dollar Amount For The Alleged Fraud. The original victim allegedly sent money, and investigators have identified additional victims, but authorities have not released a combined financial-loss figure. [FOX 5 Atlanta]

Police Seek More Victims

Athens-Clarke County Police Believe There May Be Additional Victims. Investigators are asking anyone who believes Mills used a fake identity to establish a relationship with them to contact police. [WSB-TV]

Authorities Warn That AI Can Make Catfishing Schemes More Convincing. Police urged people to be particularly cautious when someone they have never met in person requests money, gifts or other property. [WYFF]

Case Status

Mills Faces Multiple Pending Fraud-Related Charges In Georgia. The publicly reported charges include identity fraud, impersonating a public officer, giving a false name and two counts of making false statements. [Athens Banner-Herald] [Front Page Detectives]

He Has Been Released On Bond. Police nevertheless say the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed. [WRDW]

Authorities Have Identified Additional Alleged Victims Across Multiple States. Police have not yet announced the final number of victims or total financial losses. [WSB-TV]

The Charges Have Not Been Proven In Court. Mills remains accused while the Georgia criminal case proceeds.