Local law enforcement agencies are warning of two recent phone scams targeting NoVA residents.
Vienna Phone Scam
On May 27, the Town of Vienna Police Department (VPD) posted on social media warning residents that scammers are calling from what appears to be the department’s official phone number (703-255-6366), and “Vienna Police Department” appears on the caller ID. The scammer falsely claims to be a VPD representative and may call multiple times.
The Vienna Police Department says it “will NEVER call you to collect fines or request personal information.”
“If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal or financial information,” VPD says. “If you’re ever unsure about the legitimacy of a call, you can always hang up and call us directly. We can confirm the validity of the officer’s employment and intent of the phone call. If a caller claims to be from a business or government agency, hang up and contact the organization directly using a verified phone number.”
VPD says to report suspicious calls to the Federal Communications Commission. It reminds residents not to share personal information such as social security numbers, passwords, and banking account numbers, and to be cautious if you’re being pressured to act quickly. If a caller claims to be from a business or government agency, hang up and contact the organization directly using a verified phone number.
Loudoun County Phone Scam
On May 29, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s (LCS) Office posted a scam alert about callers claiming to be bank employees. The scammers request online banking usernames, passwords, and security codes.
LCS says, “Your bank will NEVER ask for this sensitive information over the phone.” If you receive a suspicious call, the post says to hang up immediately, contact your bank directly using the official number, and report the incident.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
