The Herndon Police Department is warning residents of a parking ticket scam, which comes after the town passed sweeping parking restrictions.
The fake ticket, which is blue, urges residents to pay $50.
A spokesperson for the Herndon Police Department told Reston Now that it is unclear how widespread the issue is at this point.
“Until we can determine who created the fake ticket and placed it on the vehicle, the only thing we can do is education the public on the fact that this is a scam,” said Lisa Herndon, a spokeswoman for HPD.
So far, only on citizen sent in a check for payment after receiving the fake ticket on their vehicle.
Residents who receive the parking ticket should report it to HPD by calling 703-435-6846.
In late January, the town’s council restricted how close drivers can park to drivers and doubled down on parking of commercial vehicles in neighborhoods.
The "parking ticket" shown was found on a vehicle parked on Locust Street. This IS NOT a legitimate parking ticket from HPD or the @TownOfHerndon. If you receive one on your vehicle, please report it to us by calling 703-435-6846. #HerndonPD pic.twitter.com/s63SzCBGSV
— Herndon Police (@HerndonPolice) February 11, 2022
School Board Votes to Ban Guns — The Fairfax County School Board voted Tuesday to ban firearms on all school properties, including those leased by a school system. [WTOP]
Herndon Fire Caused by Electrical Event — A fire in a home on the 12100 block of Eddyspark Drive in Herndon was caused by an electrical event in the AC disconnect. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
Police Issue Warning About Scam — The police department is reminding residents about a common scam in which a caller claiming to represent the police department demands payment to resolve outstanding warrants. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Virginia Declares State of Emergency Over Gas Supplies — Gov. Ralph Northam gave the state and local governments increased flexibility and funding yesterday (Tuesday) after a ransomware attack disrupted the Colonial Pipeline, which provides 45% of the East Coast’s gasoline supply. 7.5% of the state’s 3,880 gas stations reported running out of fuel, a shortage primarily attributed to panic buying. [WTOP]
ABC Stores Will Resume Pre-Pandemic Hours on Friday — “After more than a year of reduced operating hours in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores will return to pre-pandemic operating hours on May 14, 2021. All stores will open by 10 a.m. every day, apart from some stores which regularly open later on Sundays…Closing times vary by store.” [Virginia ABC]
Herndon Robbery Suspect Still Unidentified — An armed robbery of a business in the 1000 block of Elden Street on Thursday (May 6) is still under investigation. Police say “an unknown subject” entered the business shortly before 10 a.m., displayed a weapon, and demanded money. The business and amount of money taken have not been disclosed. [Herndon Police Department]
Fairfax County Warns About “Phone Spoofing” Scam — Multiple Fairfax County residents have reported receiving calls from 703-324-1000 saying that their data has been compromised and they need to set up fraud protection. While the number appears to be from the MyFairfax online portal, it is a scam, and the county says people should not call any secondary number or give out their personal or county information. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Reston Community Center to Open Late — The center’s facilities will open at 9 a.m. today. Water aerobics classics that start before then in the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center are canceled. [RCC]
Detectives Issue Warning about Texas License Plate Scam — ”Detectives with our Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau are warning unsuspecting motorists of vehicle registrations being illegally sold involving the issuance of temporary Texas state license plates. Late last year detectives learned that Latinos Solutions Inc., formerly located at 7202 Poplar Street, Suite F, in Annandale, was fraudulently distributing temporary Texas license plates. After a lengthy and complex investigation, detectives arrested Karla Lopez, 25, of Woodbridge. ” [FCPD]
Fairfax Connector Returns to Regular Service with Detours — ”As wintry weather is expected to continue to impact Fairfax County and the National Capital Region, Fairfax Connector will operate full service with established detours tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. As road conditions improve, detours will be lifted on a route-by-route basis, or system-wide.” [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Police Department Warns of Scam — Scammers are calling local residents and claiming to represent the Fairfax County Police Department. Individuals are asked to make payments to resolve outstanding warrants, which are fake. [FCPD]
Local Leaders Want Vaccine Woes Fixed — ” A coalition of local governments in Northern Virginia is calling on Gov. Ralph Northam to streamline the release of COVID-19 vaccine doses and provide more transparency and equity into the process.” [Inside NOVA]
Morale Boosters Planned for Herndon Community — “K Scarry of Herndon, Community Director of The People’s Supper, and Jimmy Cirrito, owner of Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern in Herndon, discuss a new initiative that needs no funding ‘to get all of our neighbors and local businesses through to the other side of the pandemic.“ [The Connection]
Reston Company Plans Hiring Spree — “Fast-growing software company ScienceLogic is prepping for a massive hiring spree in 2021. The Reston company ended 2020 with a little over 400 people and plans to hire about 150 more over the coming year, CEO Dave Link told the Washington Business Journal, boosting headcount by roughly 40% in the coming months.“ [Washington Business Journal]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
A man appears to be impersonating a police officer from the Herndon Police Department, police warn.
Several town residents have received a call from someone impersonating Lt. James Moore from HPD. The message requests the receiver to call back in order to discuss an urgent matter.
HPD posted a video of the impersonator online yesterday (Tuesday).
That is NOT voice of the real Lt. James Moore from the Herndon Police Department. Someone has been calling town residents representing himself as Lt. Moore and requesting a call back to discuss an “urgent matter.” If you received a call from this phone number, please disregard. If you ever receive a call from an HPD officer requesting a call back, please feel free to call our non-emergency number to verify the legitimacy of the call. 703-435-6846.
Posted by Herndon Police Department on Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Residents can call the department’s non-emergency number — which is 703-435-6846 — in order to verify the legitimacy of a call.
Reston Sophomore Helps Elementary School Students — “South Lakes High sophomore Andrew built a simple sitting bench last summer for the fun of it. He then considered building an improved bench that he could donate to a worthy cause. A few brainstorms later, he contacted Herndon Elementary garden lady Jill Vinson and floated the idea of creating a planters table.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
A Senior Caught in a Dating Scam — A 72-year-old senior from Reston shares a story about how she was caught in an online dating scam. She says the man convinced her to sell her condo and give him large amounts of cash. [WAMU]
Reston Association Seeks Volunteers for Design Review Board — Lisa Heath, the DRB’s meeting manager, discusses the need for architects, land planners and landscape architects on the board. [Reston Today]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
State officials are warning residents to avoid using any third-party sites to find vital records.
In a release by the State Health Commissioner, officials urged residents to not pay fees for any vital record application forms, which are free. Searches require payment.
A growing number of fake vital records websites have been reported.
Official information forms are available at any Vital Records office in the state, the Virginia Department of Health’s website, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
The county also offers four vital records office locations, including one in Reston (1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Suite 100).
Photo via Unsplash
The Reston District Station of the Fairfax County Police Department is hosting a scam and fraud awareness event on September 26 from 4-7 p.m.
The event, which will be held at Reston Associations headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive), is free and open to the public. A panel will offer insights on how scams that frequently target the older adult community. Subject matter experts will also discuss warning signs of fraud.
Families, caregivers, and businesses are encouraged to attend the event. Parking is free.
For more information, call 703-479-5167.
Photo via FCPD
Open Houses Scheduled at All Fire Stations — In celebration of Fire Prevention Week, all Fairfax County Fire and Rescue stations will be hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Citizens are invited to meet firefighters, see the fire trucks, join in the activities and learn about fire safety. Local stations include Reston (1820 Wiehle Ave.), North Point (1117 Reston Ave.), Herndon (680 Spring St.) and Fox Mill (2610 Reston Parkway). [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
Farm Harvest Days Coming Up — Watch the cider press in action, milk a goat, shell corn, peel apples, meet the farm animals, see traditional farm demonstrations, take a wagon ride, hop on the carousel and more during the annual Farm Harvest Days, Oct. 14-15 at Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 W. Ox Road, Herndon). [Fairfax County Park Authority]
County Helping Residents Combat Scammers — This week’s Fairfax 50+ Podcast concerns the county’s new Silver Shield Anti-Scam Campaign, which works to protect older adults by sharing critical information to help them avoid being scammed. [Fairfax County/Soundcloud]
Car Tax Is Due Friday, But Why? — Some historical reference for why Virginia residents must pay an annual tax on their vehicles. [WTOP]
Walking Tour of Colvin Run Planned — The first phase of the Colvin Run restoration project, within Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive), was completed in August. A walking tour of the 2,220 restored feet of the stream is slated for 10 a.m. Friday. [Fairfax County Park Authority]
A jury duty scam that circulated in 2014 has returned, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office says.
Several Fairfax County residents have recently reported phone calls from a man claiming to be named “Sergeant Davis.” Victims are told that they have an outstanding warrant and must provide credit card information or purchase a Green Dot money card from Walgreens or CVS to wire over to the scammer.
The perpetrator has attempted several angles in order to scam money off residents. People have been told that they have missed a jury duty court date, failed to pay a utility bill or owe the IRS for unpaid taxes.
SCAM ALERT! Caller claims to be “Sgt Davis” & says you failed to appear in court/jury duty. Hang up! Do not give out personal info or $.
— Fairfax Sheriff (@fairfaxsheriff) July 20, 2017
According to the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office:
Telephone scammers, FALSELY claiming to be Sheriff’s deputies, are seeking personal information and threatening you with arrest so that they can take your money. The scammers may request credit card information for court costs and provide you with a “new” court date. Or they will direct you to go to Walmart, CVS or Rite Aid and purchase a green dot money card. PLEASE HANG UP on these scammers! Do not give out personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers, passwords or any other identifying information about yourself or your family members. Regularly monitor all of your monetary accounts and always use strong passwords.
Learn more about avoiding various scams, how to recover from identity theft and how to report if you have been the victim of a financial crime. Please share this information with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Anyone who thinks they have fallen victim to one of these scams should report it through the county’s Financial Crimes Information and Reporting System.
Similar scams have been reported in other jurisdictions, including Arlington.
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens about a phone scam in which perpetrators claim a person owes a fine for not appearing for jury duty.
From the Sheriff:
Scammers, identifying themselves as deputy sheriffs, are calling residents of Fairfax County and surrounding jurisdictions, claiming that the resident failed to appear for jury duty and must pay a court fee to avoid arrest.
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office is in no way associated with this scam. Sheriff’s deputies will NOT call you asking for money nor threatening you with arrest.
If you receive a threatening phone call related to jury duty, please hang up immediately. Do NOT give out personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers, passwords or any other identifying information.
Regularly monitor all of your monetary accounts and always use strong passwords.
