Why are fraud scams tough to solve?
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Each year, Virginians lose millions of dollars to scammers. The outcome is not only frustrating for victims, but for law enforcement, who face several challenges investigating these cases.
It could be a text from someone who seems like your perfect match or a caller who wants you to act now to get out of a sticky situation. Despite what you may think, the person who is actually on the other line could be a scammer hoping to prey on your emotions.
“Every human is vulnerable to this kind of psychological manipulation, and it just has to do with what's going on in that person's life," said Detective Joseph Wood with Henrico Police.
Detective Joseph Wood said he's seen several romance, impersonation and jury duty scams come to his desk during his time at Henrico Police. In 2025, the agency investigated 692 fraud/scam cases, 36 more cases than in 2024. While there are many similarities between the different fraud schemes, the tactics scammers use are constantly evolving.
“It's interesting because there's always something new to learn, and it's difficult because we're constantly playing catch-up to whatever the next new thing is," Wood said.
One thing that remains the same between cases is where most criminals carry out their lucrative plan. Wood said oftentimes scammers are based out of the country, making prosecution difficult.
“This creates a real impediment to domestic prosecution because international extradition is so burdensome and we simply can't do the international extradition process for every scam that comes across our desk," Wood said.
That is why prevention is key to stop a scammer from gaining access to your personal information.
How to protect yourself from scammers:
- Never give your personal information over the phone to an unverified source
- Don't give computer access to anyone you don't know
- Avoid making payments using gift cards or cryptocurrency
- Don't feel pressured to act now, hang up and verify the source.
Police still urge Central Virginians to file a police report if they believe they have fallen victim to a scam. Residents in Henrico County can call (804) 501-5000, make a report in person or file a report online.
