VIDALIA, La &045;&045; Mayor Hyram Copeland still believes his community is among the best in the nation, but city leaders were the victims of a scam artist this week who told them the town had been chosen one of USA Today’s top small cities.

&uot;I’m very upset,&uot; Copeland said. &uot;We’re going to try to prosecute this individual.&uot;

The chamber of commerce had received a phone call earlier this week from a man who claimed the city had been chosen by the national newspaper as one of the country’s top 100 small communities.

Copeland said he was suspicious but pleased that the town would be recognized.

But in the days that followed, town officials learned the caller was conducting a scam.

Copeland said he didn’t know how the man learned about Vidalia, other than through Web sites or news reports about the various projects the town has been involved in.

&uot;He knows cities that are doing well, and he sees them doing things that are positive,&uot; Copeland said.

Although the designation turned out to be a scam, Copeland said he could understand why someone would think Vidalia was one of the best communities in the country.

&uot;Even though it was a scam, we are No. 1 in our mind,&uot; he said.