First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ian Kaufmann warned residents on April 14 about scam phone calls targeting people in the Western District of Virginia.
According to officials, individuals have reported receiving multiple calls from numbers that appear to be associated with government agencies, but are not actually connected to them. The callers use technology to make their numbers look legitimate and demand payment while threatening actions such as “kick down their doors.”
Tracci said that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia does not contact citizens demanding money or personal information. He advised anyone who receives such a call or email not to provide any personal information, credit card details, prepaid cards, or money.
Kaufmann also addressed the situation by stating that federal authorities do not call victims or suspects asking for money or identifying information over the telephone.
Officials urge anyone who receives similar fraudulent communications to report them immediately through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
