Legal Scam Leads To $35K Loss For Fredericksburg Woman: Police

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A Fredericksburg woman lost $35,000 to a scammer last week, the Fredericksburg Police Department said. Authorities are urging residents to be wary of possible scams.

Authorities have not announced any arrests or suspects in connection with the scam.

Officials with the Fredericksburg Police Department shared information about a common scam in an effort to prevent more losses in the future.

Last week, the victim received a call from an unknown man who impersonated her son, the police department said. The caller said he had been in a car crash and the other driver was a pregnant woman who was seriously injured.

The scammer claimed that he was also injured and was in police custody. He said that a lawyer would call her with more information, authorities said.

"The 'lawyer' called after they got off the phone and provided lots of information about the accident, informing her he ordered a blood test for her son," the police department said. "The 'lawyer' said he could get her son out on bond for $35,000, and she would get her money back in a week once the case was settled."

The fake lawyer had the victim retrieve cash from the bank, but told her not to tell the bakers the reason for the withdrawal. A driver arrived and retrieved the cash from the victim; the fake lawyer told the driver to deliver the cash to a man in Woodbridge.

The scammer called back again later, demanding another $35,000. He claimed that the pregnant woman involved in her son's accident had a miscarriage, leading to a manslaughter charge.

The victim became suspicious and decided to call her actual son; she then realized that she had fallen victim to a scam.

"Financial scams also often go unreported or can be challenging to prosecute, so they're considered a 'low-risk' crime," the police department said. "However, they're devastating to many older adults and can leave them vulnerable with little time to recoup their losses."

Fredericksburg residents can report a scam by calling 540-373-3122.

More information about common scams is available online.