James City County Sheriff’s office warns of phone scams

JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — Williamsburg-James City County Sheriff’s Office is warning the community of increased scam attempts over the phone, deputies said.

Individuals posing as law enforcement officers are calling victims with claims that federal or other warrants have been issued against them.

Victims are told they missed a court appearance and must transfer funds under threat of being arrested, and must not disclose this to anyone. Payment methods requested include peer-to-peer payment apps, Coinstar, and cryptocurrency.

The scammers have utilized phone numbers ending in -0860, -3356 and -7055, and their narratives are subject to change, deputies said. Moreover, they have falsely claimed affiliation with law enforcement agencies in the region, such as the Richmond Police Department and the New Kent County Sheriff’s Office.

No James City County law enforcement personnel will ever contact someone directly and request money be given.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

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