Scam Alert: Second Elderly Woman Tricked by Repair Worker Scam

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office is searching for two men who scammed an elderly woman by posing as power company employees.

The male suspects allegedly told the woman they needed to check her lights and mentioned laying new power lines. The suspects had the victim turn the lights on and off in different rooms before one suspect led the victim to the basement. The male suspect in the basement then left the victim and when she returned upstairs, both men were gone, according to a report.

The victim realized the suspects had stolen an undetermined amount of cash from the residence. Multiple deputies responded to the address and checked the entire area but were unable to locate any suspects.

“This is a mean spirited crime aimed at some of our most vulnerable citizens,” Stafford County Sheriff Charles Jett said in a statement. “The Sheriff’s Office is aggressively investigating this incident.”

The incident occurred Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at a North Stafford residence. The suspects are described as two males, possibly Hispanic, ages 25 to 30, both wearing khaki pants.

A similar scenario was reported in Arlington last weekend when a 91-year-old woman let two men into her residence on South 31st Street. The suspects were described as men in their 20s. The first suspect was described as standing at 5'6" and weighing 160 pounds with a chipped front tooth and wearing a blue Nike shirt. The second suspect was described as standing at 5'1 and weighing 145 pounds.

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office urges residents to follow these safety and prevention measures:

1. When someone knocks at your door, do not open it unless you know your visitor.
2. If a person says they are from the power company or utility department ask for identification and credentials.  Ask for a phone number that you can call to verify their name and business.  Refuse to deal with anyone who will not comply with your request.
3. If someone comes to your door that you do not trust or who you believe may be dangerous, call 911 immediately.