Reporting Scams to Local Police: Understanding Their Role and Limits

Scams have become a regular part of life, whether it’s a suspicious email, a fake phone call, or someone pretending to be someone else online. They can show up in all kinds of ways, like tech support pop-ups, romance scams, or fake messages that seem to come from government officials.

When it comes to reporting these scams, it might seem like a simple step, but the process can be overwhelming. It’s not that local law enforcement doesn’t care. The problem is that it’s often hard to tell which agency is responsible, especially if the scam crosses state lines or involves other countries. That makes it hard to track down the scammers and stop them.

Below is some information, courtesy of the Virginia State Police (VSP), about which types of scam and fraud are typically handled by local police versus state agencies.

Did you know local police and sheriffs in Virginia can only investigate crimes that happen within their city or county? For example, you may live in Fairfax County, but if the person committing the fraudulent crime is located in Loudoun County, the Fairfax police would not be able to take the case. You must report the crime to the local police in the area where the crime itself occurred.

Unfortunately, this does get tricky when you’re receiving texts or calls from someone out-of-state, or even outside of the country, as is common with many scams that target older adults. Scammers often use technology to create a fake U.S. phone number in order to disguise their real location. In these cases, police may make an informational report, so there is a paper trail, but they will ultimately need to refer you to the proper state, or even federal, agency, depending on the circumstances.

Local police and sheriff’s departments in Virginia typically handle fraud cases that:

● Occur within their city or county
● Involve crimes or scams with a direct connection to their jurisdiction
● Include fraud types that are clearly prosecutable under local or state laws
● Cover smaller-scale scams, localized to their community
● Address immediate threats or incidents reported by residents in their area
● Investigate crimes like credit card fraud occurring within their jurisdiction
● Document scams for victims by taking informational reports to create official records

Because of jurisdiction limits, some fraud cases in Virginia are assigned to state or federal authorities. Common scenarios include:

● Internet and Phone Scams from Outside Virginia: Local police may direct victims of scams that are outside their area to report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The Virginia State Police High-Tech Crimes Division also encourages reporting online fraud via IC3, since federal agencies can investigate crimes crossing state or national borders.

● Large-Scale or Organized Fraud: Fraud schemes affecting multiple jurisdictions often involve the Virginia State Police or federal task forces. VSP’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation assists with cases spanning multiple cities or counties, and federal agencies lead investigations when fraud crosses state lines.

● Impersonation of Government Agencies: Scams pretending to be IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement are documented locally but usually investigated federally by agencies such as the IRS Inspector General, SSA OIG, or FBI. Victims can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which tracks fraud trends and can take civil action.

● Insurance Fraud: The Virginia State Police's Insurance Fraud Program typically covers property fraud, casualty fraud and workers’ compensation fraud. This unit has statewide authority to handle complex insurance fraud cases that go beyond local jurisdictions. Victims or witnesses can submit confidential tips online or by phone, and the program offers rewards up to $25,000 for information that leads to a conviction. Local police often refer insurance fraud cases to this unit for expert investigation. Information and “submit a tip” options are available at stampoutfraud.com.

● Medicaid, Medicare and Tax Fraud: Fraud involving government benefits or taxes is referred to specialized state or federal units like the Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit or IRS investigators. Local police typically do not handle these cases.

● Consumer and Financial Scams: Many consumer scams are referred to the Virginia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, especially when no criminal laws are violated. Identity theft cases can also be reported to state programs and the FTC.

Knowing which agency to contact when dealing with scams can make the process less stressful and more effective. While local police may be your go-to for scams that happen directly in your area, bigger more complex cases are usually handled by state or federal authorities. Understanding how jurisdiction works can help you avoid confusion and get your report to the right place. Unfortunately, scams have become a part of everyday life, but having the right information can be a key step toward stopping them and helping protect others from becoming the next target.