Fairfax Water Impersonator Robs Fairfax Home — Could It Happen to You?

If you hear a knock on your door this weekend, you might want to think twice about letting the stranger on your porch inside.

Fairfax County police believe someone is pretending to be a Fairfax Water utility employee in order to gain access to their area homes and rob them. 

There have been two reported incidents in nearby Annandale this week, the department said in a news release today.

A 76-year-old woman, who lives in the 6500 block of Annandale Street, told police she received a visit around 3:40 p.m. Thursday from a man carrying a clipboard and claiming to work for Fairfax Water.

The man told the woman he needed to check on something and the woman escorted him to her backyard, police said. Police believe another person entered the home while the woman and suspect were in the backyard and stole money from the woman's purse. 

The second incident, also involving a woman, was reported to police after the woman refused to let the man enter her home. She was not harmed.

Lucy Caldwell with the Fairfax County Police Department's Public Information Office said police believe the two incidents are connected and have not ruled out whether there are multiple suspects involved.

This isn't the first time someone pretending to represent a legitimate company has targeted Fairfax County residents. Earlier this year, the West Springfield District Station said impersonators claiming to be from various utility companies tried to obtain personal and financial information from dozens of older adults in Burke and Springfield through telephone scams.

Caldwell said residents should be vigilant and notify both Fairfax Water and police if they think they've been victimized.

How To Avoid Being a Victim:

Residents should call Fairfax Water at 703-698-5800 to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from the utility company.

Other things to know to protect yourself:  

• Fairfax Water employees have photo identification with them at all times when they are on the job. Our vehicles and field staff’s clothing bear our logo. During the summer months, there may be Fairfax Water summer interns in your neighborhood who do not wear uniforms, however each one will have a Fairfax Water photo identification displayed prominently.
• If someone comes to your door and identifies themselves as a Fairfax Water employee, please ask for their identification or call 703-698-5800, TTY 711 to verify before letting them into your home.
• Fairfax Water employees do not receive or accept any form of payments during service calls and do not collect water-service fees door-to-door.
• Most water meters are located outside of a customer’s home. Therefore, Fairfax Water employees typically DO NOT require access to a customer’s home to read a meter.

Have you spotted any impersonators? Tell us in the comments.