The Stafford Sheriff’s Office says recently there have been scam reports involving fake deputies. These scammers pretend to be a member of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office and inform the victim they missed jury duty. In order to avoid arrest, the scammer demands money, usually by a Bitcoin kiosk or by third-party apps like Zelle.
The Sheriff’s Office says these scams use a fear tactic in order to get the victim to act quickly or face serious consequences. No law enforcement agency, they say, will demand money over the phone. Whether you receive a call from a fake named deputy, or someone posing as a real deputy with the Sheriff’s Office, never send money to avoid arrest.
If you are unsure about the person on the other end of a call being a deputy or not, hang up and call the Sheriff’s Office directly at 540-658-4450.
