It appears there are a bunch of scams “plaguing” the Commonwealth of Virginia, and scammers are now showing up at people’s homes to collect, warned Mathews County Sheriff April Edwards.
In a public service announcement, Edwards said the scam has found its way to Mathews, a rural county at the tip of the Middle Peninsula.
In one instance, a Mathews family was contacted by someone claiming his son had been arrested in another state and was injured from getting into a car accident, the sheriff explained. The caller requested $9,800 in cash to pay the public defender’s office for defense.
“The family went to the bank, withdrew $9,800 in cash, and these fools actually had the nerve to show up to the house to collect the $9,800,” Sheriff Edwards said.
“Do I need to explain to you just how dangerous this is? The fact that scam artists are now showing up at people’s homes to collect,” she emphasized.
Edwards said Lynchburg Police Department contacted her office and said some of their residents have fallen victim to this scam. In one case there, a Lynchburg family was requested to pay $9,400 to pay a public defender for a family member who was allegedly in jail.
“In this instance, an elderly woman showed up to pick up $9,400 from these folks in Lynchburg,” Sheriff Edwards explained.
Then, Lake Monticello Sheriff’s Office reached to MCSO and reported having a case where an older couple was requested to pay $30,000 in cash for a similar scam. According to Sheriff Edwards, this couple complied and handed over $30,000.
“All of these instances have proven to be scams,” said Sheriff Edwards.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this. I don’t know what else we need to be doing that’s different,” she said. “But we have got to stop giving them the money because as long as we’re giving them the money, they’re going to continue to try to scam people.”
However, Sheriff Edwards also issued a warning.
“For these folks that have driven into Mathews County and collected money, I sure hope you’re watching this because we’re on to you and we’re coming for you. So, stand by,” she said.
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