VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Sheriff Rocky Holcomb announced this week the establishment of the first Consumer Protection Unit within the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office (VBSO). With the dramatic rise in scams against people in the community, Holcomb said the time is right to help end these crimes, many of which involve perpetrators impersonating sheriffs’ deputies or police officers.
“I am very proud to introduce the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office Consumer Protection Unit. We cannot sit idly by and let these scammers get away with cheating law-abiding citizens out of their hard-earned money, especially under the guise of law enforcement,” Holcomb said. “We will do everything in our power to help citizens protect themselves, put these criminals out of business and make them pay the consequences of their illegal actions.”
Over the last five years, reports of fraud, identify theft and other scams increased by nearly 55%, totaling 5.4 million reports and $10 billion in total losses in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network. The top three scams were identity theft, imposter scams and credit bureau scams, with the median loss being $500.
In Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, one of the most common scams has become the jury duty scam, where imposters posing as deputy sheriffs demand money for missed jury duty. The VBSO will never demand money over the phone for missed jury duty or any other reason.
The VBSO has created a new page on its website, https://vbso.net/consumer-protection-unit , with resources and a form for people to submit suspected scams by category: phone, online or charity. VBSO staff will investigate the reports, working closely with local, state and federal agencies to bolster our collective efforts against fraud. These include the Federal Trade Commission and the Virginia Beach Police Department Economic Crimes Division.
“At our core, we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of every member of our community. Our mission goes beyond locking up offenders, it's also about empowering our community to protect themselves and avoid becoming crime victims,” Holcomb said. “We are dedicated to equipping people with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the increasingly complex landscape of scams and fraud.”
The VBSO Consumer Protection Unit, led by Capt. Eric Lanciaux, also plans to arm citizens with the information and tools needed to effectively thwart fraudulent schemes and safeguard their financial well-being through timely alerts about emerging scams and providing personalized assistance to victims.
“The VBSO wants to build a community where residents are empowered to make informed decisions, recognize potential threats and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their loved ones,” Holcomb said. “Join us in the fight against fraud so that together we can make Virginia Beach safer for everyone.”
To reach the VBSO Consumer Protection Unit, call 757-385-7922.
Media contact: Public Information Officer Toni Guagenti at tguagenti@vbso.net or 757-385-8446.
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