Immigrants Targeted in Phone Scam

Phone scams are an increasing problem across the nation — with victims expected to purchase money cards at grocery stores and provide the card numbers so the scammers can easily obtain the cash.

The callers will claim taxes are due for lottery winnings or a power bill is delinquent or there are court fines for missing jury duty. All are fraudulent claims — but another target is immigrants in the country legally, but fearful of their status.

An Ashburn resident contacted the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday regarding this particular scam.

The victim received a call from a person claiming to be from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The caller claimed the victim had fines due because his/her federal forms had expired.

The victim obtained a money card and provided the card information to the caller, who then claimed more money was due for back taxes to the USCIS. The victim purchased more money cards and provided the card information to the caller.

It wasn’t until later that the victim realized this was a scam and contacted deputies.

A similar scam targeted Fairfax residents in April, with a woman telling city police that she was threatened with the loss of her citizenship over back taxes owed. Another woman was threatened with prison if she didn’t send money.

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