Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, Ian Kaufmann, warned residents on Apr. 14 about a series of scam phone calls targeting people in the Western District of Virginia.
The warning is important as scammers are using caller ID spoofing to make their numbers appear as if they belong to government agencies. The callers reportedly demand payment and threaten recipients with statements such as they will "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 that anyone who receives such a call or email should not provide any personal details, credit card numbers, prepaid cards, or money.
Kaufmann said federal authorities do not call victims or suspects and ask for money or identifying information over the telephone.
Residents who receive suspicious calls are encouraged to report them to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
