Phone Scams Hit Residents in Fairfax: Police

FAIRFAX, VA — Two city residents were the victims of familiar telephone scams Friday afternoon, according to Fairfax Police.

In the first incident, shortly before 1 p.m. in the 9800 block of Crescence Way, a man said he got a call from someone claiming to be his grandson. He said he was jailed in Georgia and needed money for bail and for a lawyer whose phone number he provided.

The man called the so-called lawyer and was told to withdraw a large sum of money from his bank and then await further instructions. Instead, the man verified his actual grandson was safe at a Virginia college and then called police.

In the second incident, at around 3:15, a man said he got a call from man who said the victim's brother had hit a child with his vehicle and then was kidnapped, the man said, who said the "brother's" released hinged on lots of money being sent.

So the victim followed instructions to buy a Moneygram and send it to Puerto Rico. He later contacted his brother, who hadn't been kidnapped and hadn't hit a child, and then called police.

Police say it's a common ruse, such as a caller demanding money to bail out a grandchild or loved one from jail.

If you should receive such a call, police advise hanging up on the caller, check on the welfare of loved ones, and call police at 911.

NBC News had a segment last month on such scams.

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