Don’t fall victim to these common phone scams, which are happening in our community. Several Weichert Fairfax Regional agents have recently been victims of the Family Member Critical Emergency phone scams, according to Managing Broker Lorraine Arora.
We are warning all of you to be alert. If you or someone you know is victimized by a phone scam, call Fairfax County Police at 703.385.7924.
Family Member Critical Emergency Scam!
Callers generally claim they are your teenage/young adult-aged family member (grandson/daughter, nephew/niece). They tell you they’ve been arrested, are in jail and need money, either for bond or court fees. They will ask you to wire money to a non-existent attorney or bondsman, or possibly to a friend who will pay the alleged fines so they can be released. The scammer could know your name, your family member’s name, nicknames commonly used between you and other accurate details about you and your family (i.e. actual college they attend, state in which the real family is located, etc.)
Child Abduction Scam
Police from around the region report a relatively new child abduction scam when a parent/guardian gets a phone call during a school day and they
hear a child crying or a child stating they have been kidnapped. Then, a stranger gets on the phone and tells the parent their child has been abducted and demands ransom for the child’s return. The scammer tells the victim to wire the money to a specific location.
Get the full details about this scam.
Sheriff’s Warrant for Your Arrest Scam
Have you received a phone call from the “Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office” saying that you have a warrant out for your arrest? Recently, scammers are claiming you have failed to appear for a court case and a warrant is outstanding. These scammers, falsely claiming to be deputies, are requesting credit card information for court costs and providing a “new” court date to the victim.
If you receive a call like this, please call the Police Department’s warrant desk at 703-246-4231, TTY 711, to verify if you or someone else may have a warrant.
IRS Scam
Callers claim they are from the IRS, a government agency or a law firm and you owe money. If you do not pay immediately, they threaten the police will show up at your door and arrest you.
This is simply not true.
To learn more or to report a scam, click here for the Fairfax County News Center.