CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. – Chesterfield Police issued a warning about an incident in which a woman handed money over to an unknown suspect who claimed to be a member of the Chesterfield Sheriff’s Office. In addition to that incident currently under investigation, police received reports of two other similar incidents Tuesday. In those incidents, the people who were targeted by the scammers did not send them money.
The scam, police said, began with a phone call.
"An unknown suspect called the victim at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, and claimed to be an employee of the Sheriff’s Office. The suspect claimed that the victim had missed grand jury duty and was required to pay a fine using a prepaid money card," Chesterfield Police warned. "The victim sent the suspect the money. The suspect also told the victim to go to the Sheriff’s Office to have charges against her dropped. When she went to the Sheriff’s Office, she realized she had been defrauded."
Chesterfield Police and the Sheriff’s Office said neither agency would ever collect fines in that manner. Investigators asked anyone who has received a similar call to contact police immediately. Anyone with information should contact Chesterfield Police at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.