Fraud Alert: Arlington Police Warn Of Telephone Scam

ARLINGTON, VA -- Telephone scammers are targeting Arlington residents in an attempt to defraud them of money by saying the victims have overdue utility payments, according to an Arlington County Police Department release.

The fraudulent callers identify themselves as Dominion Energy technicians and then accuse the victims of having unpaid utility bills. The victims are told that if they don't send funds immediately, their power will be disconnected. The caller will then provide a fake claim number and phone number the victim must call to pay the overdue bill. They are often expected to pay the bill using a gift card or prepaid debit card.

Residents should not rely on the caller ID function of their phone to screen these individuals, as the scammers sometimes falsify that information to hide their identity.

Anyone wishing to verify their account information can call Dominion Energy directly at 866-366-4357. Dominion Energy does not call, email or text customers asking for their personal information. More fraud prevention tips can be found on the Dominion Energy website.