JAMES CITY COUNTY — The James City County Police Department and the Williamsburg-James City County Sheriff’s Office say they have observed a significant uptick in reports of scam attempts targeting residents at several points in 2024, with a new wave of scams reported in late November.
Neighboring law enforcement agencies have reported similar scams, it added.
The scams involve individuals posing as law enforcement officers contacting citizens via phone, often using aliases such as “Sgt. James Town,” “Deputy Kenneth Clevenger,” “Deputy Shawn Anby,” or “Derek Petterson,” along with fabricated badge numbers. According to officials, usually, the names used are those of actual law enforcement personnel that were obtained from publicly available online sources — primarily government-managed sites. Scammers also frequently change their aliases to names not listed.
Scammers call individuals, claim that warrants have been taken against them, and threaten consequences unless immediate payments are made, police said. Victims are told they have missed court appearances and are instructed to transfer funds directly to the scammer under the threat of imminent arrest if they refuse to comply or disclose the situation to others. Payment methods requested include peer-to-peer payment apps, Coinstar, and cryptocurrency.
The scammers have used phone numbers ending in -5257, -7160, -0860, -3356, and -7055, and their narratives are subject to change, according to the county. Moreover, they have falsely claimed affiliation with law enforcement agencies in the region, including the Richmond Police Department and the New Kent Sheriff’s Office.
Neighboring law enforcement agencies have reported similar swindle scams, and the James City County Police Department has made several public notifications this year. The Richmond Police Department issued a public alert in January, and the New Kent Sheriff’s Office reported similar incidents in March and April.
A victim in James City County suffered substantial financial losses, raising concerns that this surge in scam attempts may be linked to a broader network of fraudulent activities, the county added.
The James City County Police Department is urging citizens to exercise extreme caution and skepticism if they are contacted by anyone requesting money, gift cards, or personal and financial information — especially from those claiming to be law enforcement or from a court. No James City County law enforcement personnel, either from the police department or the Williamsburg-James City County Sheriff’s Office, will ever contact citizens directly and request money be given, it stressed.
With scams becoming increasingly common and more complex, it is imperative that awareness is raised and citizens seek education on how to protect themselves, according to officials.
Residents can always contact the alleged law enforcement agency directly to verify whether warrants exist, the department noted, adding anyone who has received suspicious communication recently is advised to contact law enforcement and report the matter.
