Scam Alert: Viennans Report Calls from 'Power Companies,' Landscapers

If you get a call from your local electric company, be warned: it could be a hoax.

The Vienna Police Department has faced a slew of cases in recent weeks from residents being harassed by employees of local power or electric companies, reportedly demanding money that was not owed.

The department isn't the only one seeing scams in recent weeks — Fairfax County police reported a Fairfax Water impersonator allegedly robbed one home earlier this month. And phone scammers are also targeting locals with phony offers of free medical alert systems in exchange for personal information, according to Manassas Park Police. 

On July 15, an employee of the Maplewood Grill, on Branch Road in Vienna, received a telephone call from a man claiming to be with Dominion Power. The caller stated the restaurant was delinquent on its electric bill and if the bill was not paid off the restaurant would lose its electricity.

The employee mentioned the call to the restaurant's owners, who stated there was no delinquency on the bill.

Vienna Police Department spokesman Gary Lose said the department has received other reports similar to the July 15 call from Maplewood Grill and is investigating the trend.  

"There have been a couple of other cases with callers stating they were with the power or electric company. A few even sent the pre-paid cards to the caller," Lose said.

Other residents have reported being bothered by landscapers or tree service employees seeking payment that was not owed.

On July 19, a citizen reported that landscapers were performing work at her father's home on Block Cottage Street and that her father was possibly the victim of a scam. Police arrived on the scene but after chatting with the homeowner and landscapers it was determined to be a matter that did not require police assistance.

On July 21 a citizen reported tree service employees entered her Holmes Drive home demanding payment for services they had completed. The homeowner claimed she had not authorized any tree services on her property and refused to pay the tree service employees.

The homeowner also stated the tree service employees had been to her on a previous occasion to solicit services, which she also declined.

The tree service employees vacated the property after failing to receive payment.

Earlier this month, GOP gubernatorial candidate  Ken Cuccinelli called fraud and elder abuse a major problem in a forum in Springfield.

Lose said the cases are currently being investigated. Anyone with information should call Vienna Police at 703-255-6396.