ARLINGTON, Va. — Just hang up the phone. Law enforcement in Arlington County is warning the community about a common and recurring phone scam. Arlington County Police said several community members reported getting a concerning voicemail message.
In the message, someone claiming to be a lieutenant with the sheriff's office is calling to discuss an urgent legal matter. It's the latest in a ruse that spans the country.
In these types of scams, callers will pose as local law enforcement and contact people, accusing them of failing to appear for jury duty. The scammers say a warrant will be issued unless a fine is paid, usually in the form of a gift card.
If paying a fine with a gift card sounds sketchy, that's because it is. The Arlington County Police Department and sheriff's office will never call to solicit funds or collect fines over the phone. Jury summonses are sent through the mail, and communications through other mediums should be considered suspicious, the police department says.
The scammers may trick your caller ID to make it look like the police department is on the other end of the call. Don't be fooled. If you get a suspicious call, immediately hang up the phone and verify the claim by calling the law enforcement agency directly.
Never use a phone number provided to you from the caller to verify their credibility. To verify information regarding law enforcement in Arlington County, contact the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222.
For more information on financial crimes and to file an online police report, click here.