A swift law enforcement operation in Cumberland County has led to the arrest of an Atlanta man accused of acting as a courier in an elaborate Social Security impersonation scam that defrauded a victim out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Abu Saleh, 47, was taken into custody on September 30 after attempting to collect a decoy cash package at a Crossville McDonald’s parking lot. The arrest followed a multi-day investigation by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Cybercrimes unit.

According to investigators, the scam began when a victim received a call from an individual falsely claiming to be a federal agent with the Social Security Administration. The fraudulent caller convinced the victim that their Social Security number was compromised, their computer hacked, and a bank employee was complicit.

Under the guise of “safekeeping,” the victim was manipulated into handing over substantial sums of money:

On September 30, authorities coordinated with the victim to set up a controlled pickup. Saleh arrived on Peavine Road to collect what he believed to be $14,000 in cash, prompting officers to move in and make the arrest.

Saleh faces multiple severe charges, including theft of property, criminal attempt to commit theft, and financial exploitation of an elderly person. In addition to a combined local bond of $650,000 for the Tennessee charges, authorities discovered an outstanding out-of-state warrant from Atlanta, bringing an additional $2,000,000 bond. Both Georgia and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holds have also been placed on him.

Saleh is scheduled to appear in Cumberland County General Sessions Court on October 5, 2026.

Authorities remind the public that legitimate government agencies will never demand cash drop-offs, courier deliveries, or remote computer access to protect funds. Residents are urged to hang up on suspicious calls and independently verify any claims through official channels.