Sheriff’s office details package theft and fraud schemes targeting residents in one day
Stafford, VA – A damaged package reported missing its contents and two separate fraud incidents involving identity theft and online scams were documented in Stafford County’s daily incident report released Tuesday, outlining a series of crimes reported within hours of each other across the area.
The reports, handled primarily by Deputy Pitts on Monday, detail how residents encountered both physical theft and increasingly sophisticated digital fraud attempts, with no suspects identified in any of the cases.
Larceny and package theft reported
A larceny was reported at 10:43 a.m. on Bentley Court, where a resident discovered a delivered package had been tampered with and emptied. “The victim reported that a package they ordered was delivered damaged and without any items inside,” the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office stated in its report. The victim contacted the retailer, which required a formal police report. “No cameras were able to identify the suspect,” the report noted.
Authorities did not indicate the value of the missing items or whether similar incidents have been reported nearby.
Fraud cases involve tax data and online scam attempt
Later that day, two separate fraud complaints were filed involving misuse of personal information and an attempted financial scam.
At 12:18 p.m. on Chapel Green Road, a resident reported that their personal information had been used without authorization after filing taxes. “The victim reported that they filed their taxes through Block Advisors, which provided a scam shield,” the sheriff’s office said. “When looking at the scam shield, the victim noticed that their personally identifiable information was being used by the suspect.” The victim responded by placing a lock on their credit with multiple bureaus. “No suspects have been identified at this time,” according to the report.
Earlier, at 11:53 a.m. on Kellogg Mill Road, another resident reported a scam involving a fraudulent PayPal email. “The victim reported that they received an email claiming to be from PayPal, notifying them of fraudulent activity on their account,” the report stated. After calling a number listed in the email, the victim allowed the suspect remote access to their computer and logged into bank accounts at the suspect’s direction.
“The suspect claimed they would fix the PayPal account after funds were transferred,” the sheriff’s office said. The victim then realized the situation was fraudulent and disconnected. “The victim then recognized it was a scam and hung up,” the report added.
The resident immediately contacted their financial institutions and shut down online account access. “No further fraudulent activity has been detected,” the sheriff’s office confirmed, adding that Deputy Pitts provided contact information in case additional issues arise.
Officials continue to urge residents to remain cautious with unsolicited communications and to verify the legitimacy of any requests involving personal or financial information.
