Alexandria Jury Duty Scam: Woman Duped Out Of $2K

ALEXANDRIA, VA—On Friday, the Alexandria Sheriff's Office warned that residents were receiving scam calls about paying fines for missing jury duty. For one resident, this message came a day too late.

An woman who wishes to remain anonymous tells Patch the scammer called her DC office around 10:35 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. The called identified himself as "Lt. Vance Barry" from the Alexandria Sheriff's Office and said there was a warrant for her arrest for failing to appear for jury duty. The caller claimed to have sent a subpoena to her home.

The problem is, she moved from Alexandria to Fairfax County within the last year, and the caller identified Alexandria addresses she hadn't lived at in years. "What should have tipped me off initially but did not was when he said that they send the subpoena to my previous address...I have not lived in that home since October 2013," she told Patch in an email.

The caller said she could avoid the arrest if she paid a $2,000 fine for failure to appear and contempt of court charges, as well as making a court appearance.

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The woman says she was terrified of being arrested since she has a baby. "The last thing in the world I wanted to do was end up accidentally in jail for something that was not my fault so he completely played into all of the fears I had," she told Patch.

She ended up withdrawing over $2,000 and paying the scammer through prepaid money cards.

Then she Googled the name "Vance Barry," and that's when she realized it was a scam.

Because the call went to a DC number, the victim reported the scam to Metropolitan Police but also notified the Alexandria Sheriff's Office. But authorities say the money is as good as gone.

The call wasn't the first "Lt. Vance Barry" has made in the area. Last fall, several Loudoun County residents reported calls from a person using the same name, claiming to be from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. In one case, a victim paid a fine and received an invoice that appeared to be from LCSO.

The Alexandria Sheriff's Office says residents receiving the calls should hang up immediately, even if the caller makes a threat of arrest. The department does not make these calls or ask for payments by phone, and official requests for jury duty in Alexandria courts are sent through the mail.

City residents that have been victims of scams should call Alexandria Police at 703-746-4444. If you're unsure if a sheriff's deputy made a call, contact the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office at 703-746-4114.

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