Police: Phone Scam Snags Fairfax City Store

Sign up for the Fairfax City Patch newsletter!

A Fairfax City business was taken in by a phone scam involving Dominion Virginia Power that has been sweeping through Northern Virginia.

On Saturday, a manager at the Spice and Tea Merchants store at 10376 Main St. reported to the Fairfax City police that on Friday, he had received a telephone call from a person claiming to represent the power company. The caller said the power to the business would be cut off unless a money card was obtained and the number provided, according to a police report.

The business did so, and then subsequently learned from news reports that the phone call was fraudulent, the police said.

More on Patch: Leesburg Police Warn Public About Dominion Power Scam

The same scam nearly worked last week on the owners of a Falls Church restaurant, WJLA-TV Channel 7 reported. Dominion Virginia Power told Channel 7 that more than 85 people have received such calls and at least eight customers have lost money.

According to the utility company, the scammers are targeting small businesses during the busy lunch and dinner hours, often catching Dominion customers off guard.

Dominion says it never demands immediate payment via cash, a green dot card or a PayPal service. “We would set up a payment plan and provide multiple notifications to avoid disconnecting service,” the company says on its website.

Customers can take these steps to protect themselves from scams over the phone or in person, Dominion says:

• Always ask for a company-issued picture I.D.
• Refuse to let anyone enter your premises unless a prior appointment for service has been made.
• Call Dominion at 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357) to verify that a caller or visitor is legitimate.
• Call local police immediately if you suspect a scam.