Angie Stadler has been filling prescriptions at this Thomson pharmacy for more than 13 years.

"It's amazing what people will try to see what they can get by with," Stadler said.

Stadler's talking about what she calls a disturbing crime, prescription forgery. It's a crime that's hit her small town pharmacy twice in the last month.

"Had someone calling acting like they're a nurse. Just sounded suspicious so we called the doctor and they said no it was not," Stadler said.

Stadler says another man tried to use an invalid photo-copied prescription.

Thomson police call it the latest in a string of eight forged prescriptions in just the past three months.

Pharmacists in Thomson say they're seeing a dramatic increase in the number of phony prescriptions. The blame it on Interstate 20.

"We have people who come in off the interstate and a lot of times they'll say we just stopped in we forgot our medications before we left home. I'm 10 or 15 miles away, that's kind of odd," Stadler said.

But that story isn't anything new for Richmond County narcotics investigator Allan Rollins. He says the crime happens at least once a week in Augusta.

"Most of these people aren't using it for personal use, they're using it to distribute and sell. They're making a profit. It's no different than selling marijuana or any other drug," Rollins said.

The quick fix he says, eliminate the prescription pad.

"In this day and age there is no reason on earth for a written paper prescription anymore," Rollins

Sergeant Rollins says although several cases are reported each week, he believes most people are never caught.

Pharmacists say it's tough to catch them when you're filling more than 15,000 prescriptions a month.