Photo courtesy of Sheriff's Office
Alexandria, Va. Sheriff's badge
"Don’t be Intimidated – Just Hang Up!" is the message that the Alexandria Sheriff's Office is getting out to Alexandria residents this week, in the Sheriff's Office Monthly Bulletin.
Phone scammers continue to impersonate law enforcement officers to intimidate their victims, the Sheriff's Office reported.
They may sound real by providing a name or badge number and saying it’s an urgent or important matter. They threaten arrest and create more fear by saying they have your address or know where you work.
The Sheriff's Office warns: "Please, do not cooperate – just hang up! Do not call them back. Unfortunately, some of our residents have been victimized. But it’s not just Alexandria, it happens everywhere. Please talk about this with your neighbors, friends, co-workers and family members. And remember, your real Sheriff’s Office wants you to hang up."
The Sheriff's Office wants to alert area residents to ongoing phone scams in which suspects pose as members of law enforcement to coerce victims into giving them money. This type of scam has occurred throughout the region, including Alexandria, and across the country.
Scams have variations but generally the caller will identify themself as a law enforcement officer and tell the victim, falsely, that a warrant has been issued because they missed a court date, did not show up for jury duty, have an overdue fine or something similar, and they will be arrested unless they pay right away.
Callers often use the names of actual deputies or police officers, and they may disguise their phone number to make it look like they are calling from a local law enforcement agency. This practice of disguising the caller ID is known as “spoofing.” Federal authorities have already reported that scammers will attempt to email a victim fake law enforcement credentials to gain their trust.
Callers intimidate victims by demanding payment and threatening them with arrest if they do not cooperate. They may demand that fines or fees by paid with money, credit cards, gift cards, payment apps, or even cryptocurrency. But no legitimate law enforcement agency in Virginia or in the region will ever call someone and demand money.
“The best way for someone to protect themselves from these scams is simply to hang up,” says Sheriff Sean Casey. “Don’t let your guard down and don’t be intimidated into providing personal details or financial information. Real deputies are not going to call you and threaten you with arrest, so just hang up if you get a call like that.”
If the caller leaves a message and demands a call back about an urgent court or law enforcement matter, do not call their number; look up the agency's number yourself and then call.
Anyone who has been the victim of a scam should notify their financial institution and report it to their local police department. The Alexandria Police Department can be reached at 703.746.4444.
You can also report scams and suspicious communications to the Federal Trade Commission.
