Two local public safety agencies are sounding the alarm on an increase in scam calls targeting Fairfax County residents.
Both the Sheriff’s Office and the Fire and Rescue Department are warning about recent schemes that fraudulently seek payments from seemingly random targets.
One scheme features a caller identifying themselves as a representative of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office and seeking payment, claiming that doing so will resolve a warrant for the person’s arrest.
“These calls are designed to frighten people into acting quickly,” Sheriff Stacey Kincaid said in a statement. “No one from the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office will ever call and demand money, gift cards, or electronic payment to clear a warrant.”
More from the sheriff’s office:
The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents:
- We will never request payment by phone.
- Do not provide personal or financial information.
- If you are unsure whether a call is legitimate, hang up and call the Sheriff’s Office directly.
Anyone who has received one of these calls or fallen victim to the scam is encouraged to email the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office at SHF-Sheriff@fairfaxcounty.gov.
“The best defense is awareness,” Sheriff Kincaid said. “By sharing information, sharing your stories with family, friends, and neighbors, we can help prevent more people from being victimized.”
The Fairfax County Office of the Fire Marshal says it has received “multiple reports” of a caller pretending to be a fire inspector. The caller seeks payment in order to keep a business open.
“When inspections require payment, it will ONLY be collected through the Planning and Land Use System (PLUS),” the Fire and Rescue Department said last week on Facebook. “Inspectors will always be in uniform and have Fire Marshal identification.”
More information about suspected scams, as well as information on how to report them, is available on the county’s website.
