JAMES CITY COUNTY — The James City County Police Department and Treasurer’s Office are warning residents to be on alert following multiple reports of fraudulent letters claiming to be from “The State of Virginia” regarding unpaid taxes and property liens.
The letters, which police said are not printed on any official letterhead and contain numerous grammatical and formatting issues, appear to be part of a larger scam designed to coerce residents into providing personal information or making fraudulent payments.
The letters threaten steep financial penalties and imply immediate consequences if the recipient does not respond immediately. However, no specific or credible payee or government contact is listed — only a toll-free 800 number that is not affiliated with any state or local government agency. According to police, when citizens call the number, the individual on the line claims to have obtained their information from “publicly available records” and offers to help resolve the matter quickly before further legal action is taken. Police believe these calls are intended to tempt recipients into sending money or sharing sensitive personal information.
James City County officials are urging residents to use caution and to verify any claims of liens or financial obligations through official channels only.
Residents can verify their information at the Circuit Court Records Room, open to the public Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., according to officials. Any legitimate communication from James City County or the Commonwealth of Virginia will include proper letterhead, accurate contact information, and clearly identify the sending agency or office.
Residents receiving suspicious letters or phone calls are advised not to respond using any contact information listed. Do not provide personal information or payment, officials said. Instead, report the matter to the James City County Police Department’s non-emergency line at 757-566-0112.
