VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A dramatic rise in scams across Hampton Roads has prompted the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office (VBSO) to establish a consumer protection unit.
Many of the scams involve perpetrators impersonating sheriffs’ deputies or police officers, and Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb believes the time is right to end these scams.
“I am very proud to introduce the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office Consumer Protection Unit. We cannot sit idly by and let these scammers get away with cheating law-abiding citizens out of their hard-earned money, especially under the guise of law enforcement,” Holcomb said.
According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network , identify theft and other scams increased by nearly 55% over the last five years. The top three scams were identity theft, imposter scams and credit bureau scams, with the median loss being $500.
One of the most common scams in Hampton Roads has become the jury duty scam. This scam involves imposters posing as deputy sheriffs demanding money for missed jury duty. VBSO reminds resident that it will never ask for money over the phone due to a missed jury duty or any other reason.
“At our core, we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of every member of our community. Our mission goes beyond locking up offenders, it’s also about empowering our community to protect themselves and avoid becoming crime victims,” Holcomb said.
The VBSO has created a new page on its website, with a form for people to submit suspected scams by category: phone, online or charity.
To contact the VBSO Consumer Protection Unit, call 757-385-7922.
