Scammers targeting Lunenberg residents with fake sheriff’s office fundraiser

LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Lunenburg County residents are being targeted by a new phone scam, with callers falsely claiming they're raising money for the local sheriff's office.

On Wednesday, April 23, the Lunenburg County Sheriff's Office posted a scam alert on its Facebook.

Recently, authorities have received several reports of scam calls involving a fake fundraiser. The scammers will tell their victims that they're raising money for a fundraiser benefiting the Lunenburg County Sheriff's Office. They will then insist that money be sent over immediately.

This is not an official fundraiser -- it is a scam. The Lunenburg County Sheriff's Office does not ask for payments or solicit donations over the phone.

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“Keeping our community safe means looking out for one another, whether [that be] face to face or over the phone," said Lunenburg Sheriff Arthur Townsend, Jr., in the alert. "My deputies and I will never call asking for money. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts, hang up and give us a call. Thank you for helping us protect Lunenburg.”

Lunenburg residents can report this scam or any other scam by calling the Lunenburg County Sheriff's Office at 434-696-4452.