Phone Scam Warning: Police

LEESBURG, VA — Leesburg residents should be aware of a increase in phone scams in the community, according to a Leesburg Police Department announcement issued today.

Police say the latest round of complaints involve a person calling and identifying themselves as an employee of Dominion Power and requesting immediate payment on “delinquent accounts,” as well as the “IRS” phone scam starting up again. In these incidences, the caller identifies themselves as an IRS agent and threatens callers with arrest if they do not immediately pay their “delinquent taxes.”

The caller tells the victim to obtain gift cards or similar items and then relay the serial numbers over the phone to the suspect. The suspect will then terminate the phone call. Unfortunately these types of scams, as well as various others, occur far too often and people fall victim to scam artists looking to turn a quick profit by playing on the fears of victims by implying that they or one of their loved ones is in some sort of trouble or an organization is in need of funds.

The Leesburg police Department reminded citizens in an announcement to be wary of that “phishing” scams such as this prey on the fears of the unknowing public to attempt to intimidate people into cooperating. Phishers attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as passwords, serial numbers, and credit card details by pretending to be a trustworthy person or business. Phishing is typically carried out using email or an instant message, although phone contact is being used more frequently.

Contact your local law enforcement agency if you feel that are a victim of these types of schemes, the Leesburg Police Department advises.