Police are warning area residents to beware of scams targeting elderly victims.
Lynchburg Police on Thursday released details of two incidents in which suspects entered houses of elderly residents, took personal information and looked around.
In the first, two men told a couple they were affiliated with a ministry that helps the elderly pay their bills, but did not provide the church’s name, police said.
After they were invited in, one stayed with the man while the other walked to all the rooms with the woman, police said. The suspects managed to get social security numbers and Medicare information from the couple before leaving.
The suspects were both described as white men — one was five feet six inches, about 230 pounds, wearing a suit and the other was six feet tall and thin, with gray hair.
In the second incident, a woman falsely identified herself to a resident of a house as an employee of Amherst County Social Services.
The suspect walked into the house and asked questions about medical equipment and the resident’s housing situation.
The suspect walked through the house before leaving, saying she would return in two weeks.
That suspect was described as a white woman in her 50’s, with dark hair, about five feet six inches tall, about 200 pounds, wearing a brown shirt, tan pants, and black Croc-style shoes.
Police said other jurisdictions have had similar incidents where suspects claim to be vacuum salesmen. There have been burglaries in the areas frequented by the suspects.
Lynchburg Police said they are unsure any of the cases are related.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lynchburg Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (434) 455-6054 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900. Visit the Central Virginia Crime Stoppers website at cvcrimestoppers.org to enter a web tip, or text “CVCS” plus the message to 274637.
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