PTA Email Scam Surfaces In Ashburn: Police

ASHBURN, VA — Authorities are investigating a case of attempted fraud against a local PTA representative in the 23300 block of Higbee Lane, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. The official received an email early Monday that appeared to be from another PTA official, and was told to transfer money to a separate account.

Investigators in Loudoun County say this is a familiar email phishing scam. Fake email message are sent and look as though they came from an official source, such as, say, a PTA treasurer or president. The messages attempt to obtain private information or, in the aforementioned case, a transfer of funds.

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Last spring, the Virginia PTA sent a warning to members about the scam:

"Please note there are fraudulent emails going to PTA units asking treasurers to transfer (wire) money to unknown accounts. Because they look to be sent from your PTA’s officers email addresses, please do not respond or wire money to unknown accounts without first doing due diligence on the request.

"This is happening quite often — even I receive them. They get names and email addresses from websites."

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