Provided by Prince William County Police
There is a growing trend nationwide of citizens receiving fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be affiliated with law enforcement. Similar to the IRS scam, callers threaten that you will be arrested if you do not comply with their demands. This can be very stressful. These scams are designed to make people panic and make hasty decisions. The caller demands money and threatens legal trouble if funds are not sent. Most alarming is that caller ID may show the name and phone number from a legitimate police agency.
You or someone you know might have received phone calls from someone claiming to be with the Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, DEA, or even the FBI. When you get calls like this, be vigilant and do not trust them.
Neither the Prince William County Police Department nor any law enforcement agency will ever call someone demanding money. Even if the caller is able to provide sensitive information (last four digits of social security number, address, date of birth, etc.), do not provide or confirm any information to them; this is part of the scam.
If you receive a call like this, do not send money. You can file a report online at pwcgov.org/policereport or call 703-792-6500. If you have questions or concerns, call the Prince William County Police Department at 703-792-6500.
