Deputies respond to identity theft and bank scam reports
Stafford, VA — Two separate fraud incidents reported in Stafford County highlight ongoing concerns involving identity theft and phone-based financial scams.
Deputies first responded around 10:42 a.m. April 21 to Wateredge Lane for a report of identity theft. The victim said their bank alerted them to a fraudulent LLC application filed in Charlotte, North Carolina using their personal information, including a driver’s license number. A fraud alert was placed on the account, and the victim was advised to contact the DMV, Social Security Administration, and Federal Trade Commission.
Later that day, around 4:23 p.m., deputies were called to Scotland Circle for a separate fraud case involving a phone scam. The victim reported receiving a call from individuals claiming to be from Atlantic Union Bank’s fraud department.
According to the report, the callers told the victim there was suspicious activity on the account and instructed them to transfer funds to another account. After the transfer was completed, the victim contacted their bank, but the funds could not be stopped.
Deputies advised the victim to follow up with the receiving bank to attempt to trace the transferred money.
Authorities continue to remind residents to verify any unsolicited financial requests and avoid sharing personal or banking information over the phone.
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Key Points
- Identity theft case involved fraudulent LLC application using victim’s information
- Phone scam led to financial loss after victim transferred funds
- Deputies advise residents to verify suspicious calls and protect personal data