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Norfolk Sheriff's Office warns residents of Moneypak phone scam

The caller says that they have a warrant for the resident's arrest, which can be avoided if they pay $500 using a MoneyPak card.
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CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The Norfolk Sheriff's Office (NSO) is the latest local law enforcement agency to sound the alarm about a growing phone scam targeting residents.

Deputies said Norfolk residents have begun receiving calls from a man claiming to be a Lieutenant Dan Glade with the Norfolk Sheriff's Office. The man claims that the person has warrants out for their arrest and that they need to buy a MoneyPak card for $500 and bring it to the sheriff's office to avoid being arrested.

This is a scam! Deputies said there is no employee named Dan Glade at NSO, and that the phone number that shows up on Caller ID is not a number associated with the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office will never call asking for money to avoid arrest, and never use MoneyPak cards as a form of payment.

In recent weeks, other local law enforcement agencies have warned of similar scams, including in Hampton and Chesapeake.

If you've been a victim of this scam or have a scam to report, visit the NSO Consumer Protection Unit's website.

The NSO also offers these tips for residents to avoid falling for scams like these:

  • Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason. 
  • Never give card number and/or receipt information from your MoneyPak purchase to someone you don’t know or share that information by email or phone. 
  • Remember, government agencies will never contact you demanding immediate payment using a MoneyPak card

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