The Fairfax County Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit is working to ensure community members have the knowledge to avoid employment scammers looking to take advantage of job seekers. Employment scammers post advertisements for fake jobs on common career sites including Indeed, Monster, Careerbuilder, social media platforms, and through emails. The objective of these scams is to get the victim to send money, divulge personal information, or provide free labor. 

Signs of an Employment Scam:

• The scammer is making threats or pressuring you to make an immediate decision. 
• The scammer requests that you open bank accounts and initiate bank wire transfers. 
• The scammer asks you to deposit funds into Bitcoin companies, such as Bitcoin ATM, Coinbase, or Gemeni. 
• The scammer requests you to withdraw funds in cash and send them via FedEx or UPS. 
• The scammer asks for access or passcodes to personal accounts including emails, bank accounts, CashApp, Paypal, etc. 
• The scammer insists on only communicating via text, WhatsApp, or Google Hangouts. 

How to Avoid an Employment Scam:

• Do your research.
• Be cautious of unrealistic offers.
• Never send money.
• Never pay employers for the promise of a job.
• Educate yourself and others.

If you suspect a scam or have fallen victim to one in Fairfax County, report it to FCPD’s Financial Crimes Unit through their online portal here. If you are unable to file a report on the computer, call the non-emergency line at 703-691-2131 to have an officer assist you with making a FiCOR report.

Telephone scammers, falsely claiming to be Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputies, are seeking personal information and threatening people with arrest so that they can take their money. The Sheriff's Office will never call people and make threats, claiming that a warrant is outstanding for failure to appear in court or that a person has missed jury duty, failed to pay a utility bill or owes the IRS for unpaid taxes. The same is true for the courts and the police. Learn more information from the Fairfax County Sheriff's office. 

The Fairfax Circuit Court is alerting people about a phone scam where individuals are impersonating officers of the court, specifically clerks in the Fairfax Circuit Court. They may solicit payment for supposed fines or legal fees and threaten legal action if payment is not made. Remember, legitimate court officials would never ask for immediate payment over the phone. If you receive such a call, do not provide any personal information or payment details. Instead, hang up and report the incident to the local authorities or contact the Clerk's office at (703) 246-4111. Stay vigilant and help spread awareness to prevent others from falling victim to this scam.

Bank jugging is when a victim has been targeted after visiting a bank or financial institution. After the victim has withdrawn a significant amount of cash from a bank, they are followed as they drive away. The victim parks their car at another location, leaving the money in the vehicle. The suspect then breaks the window of the car and steals the money. More information about recent bank jugging incidents from the Fairfax County Police Department.