Both the Radford treasurer’s office and the Radford City Sheriff’s office are warning the public about scams seeking personal information from citizens.
On Monday, the treasurer’s office announced it has been made aware of fraudulent text messages and emails received by utility customers claiming a utility payment has been made on their account and their bank information must be verified for the payment. The treasurer’s office is warning customers not to click on any link or reply to any such message and not to provide any personal information.
“The City of Radford will never send you a text message with a link asking you to verify your banking information,” the office announced.
The treasurer’s office is asking anyone who receives such a text to forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) or mark the message as spam so your phone provider can block the sender. The office has alerted the city’s IT department to monitor city systems and the police department to document the fraudulent activity.
The Radford City Sheriff’s Office has also reported a recent scam.
“Recent reports indicate that citizens have received phone calls, text messages, and emails from individuals falsely claiming to be Sheriff’s deputies,” the department announced. “Scammers often make the caller ID show your exact are code and prefix to make the number look familiar, increasing the odds that you will answer. It may also show up as caller unknown. The caller states that the recipient has missed jury duty and must pay a fine immediately.
These scammers often use the names of real deputies and demand payment in cash, gift cards, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency. They may threaten immediate arrest if payment is not made right away.
Please remember: The Radford City Sheriff’s Office, the Radford City Police Department and other legitimate law enforcement do not call to demand payment.
If you receive this type of call, hang up immediately. If you have questions or concerns, contact your local law enforcement agency directly using a verified phone number.”
