The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) has issued a warning to the public about recurring scams targeting community members through unsolicited calls, emails, and text messages. The department is sharing information on how to identify, avoid, and report these fraudulent activities.
One common scam involves individuals posing as law enforcement officials who claim the recipient failed to appear for jury duty. Victims are told that a warrant will be issued for their arrest unless they pay a fine, often requested via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or digital cash transfers. According to ACPD, “ACPD and the Sheriff’s Office will never call, email or text to solicit funds or collect fines over the phone. Additionally, juror summonses are sent through the mail and initial communication through any other method should be considered suspicious.”
The department emphasizes that legitimate government agencies and businesses do not demand immediate payment using unconventional methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency. If contacted by someone making such requests or threats, residents are advised to hang up and verify the claim directly with the agency in question.
Another scam highlighted by ACPD is spam text messages designed to steal personal information like passwords or bank account numbers. These texts may appear as alerts about locked accounts, suspicious bank activity, package delivery issues, prize notifications, unpaid tolls, or unsolicited job offers. The police caution: “If you get a text message you weren’t expecting and it asks you to provide personal or financial information, do not respond or click on any links.” Residents are encouraged to block suspicious numbers and report them as spam.
Home improvement scams were also noted as an ongoing issue. Scammers go door-to-door offering services such as driveway sealing or roof repairs but fail to perform the work after receiving payment. They may use high-pressure sales tactics and ask for large upfront deposits without contracts.
To prevent falling victim to these scams, ACPD recommends being cautious of unsolicited communications and verifying identities before sharing information or money. “Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, texts or emails,” the department advises.
Residents are urged to monitor their credit reports regularly and review bank statements for irregular activity. Any unusual transactions should be reported immediately.
Those who believe they have been targeted by a scam can file an online police report or contact ACPD’s Alternative Reporting Unit at 703-228-4300.
For more details on financial crimes prevention tips and reporting procedures, individuals can visit the police department’s financial crimes webpage.
In related community statistics from Arlington County Public Schools District—the only district in Arlington County—27,536 students were enrolled during the 2023-24 school year https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home . Washington Liberty High School had the highest enrollment among county schools with 2,904 students https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home . White students made up 41.9% of total enrollment while Hispanic students accounted for 30.3% https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home . The overall student population saw a slight decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous year https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home .
For further questions about scams affecting local families—including those with children attending one of Arlington’s public schools—community members can contact law enforcement directly.
