Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk answered a call from an unfamiliar number last week and found herself inside a jury-duty scam that sounded personal, urgent, and carefully staged.
The caller told Burk an arrest warrant had been issued because she had missed a federal jury duty assignment, according to LoudounNow.
The scammer sent her an affidavit and instructed her to read it aloud so it could be recorded. He then told her she could avoid arrest by making a $15,000 bail payment.
The call did not sound like a random robocall. Burk said the caller used enough detail and pressure to make her wonder whether he really had her under surveillance.
The Scammer Told Her Not To Go To The Sheriff’s Office
Burk was told not to go to the nearby sheriff’s office to sort out the supposed warrant because she would be arrested immediately if she showed up there.
Instead, the caller directed her to drive to her bank on East Market Street while keeping him on the phone.
The instruction kept the scam moving. If Burk had hung up and called the real sheriff’s office or court, the fake warrant story could have collapsed. By keeping her connected, the caller controlled the pace and made the threat feel immediate.
When Burk entered the bank, the scammer told her to keep the phone on so he could hear everything she said.
She Asked For $15,000 And Slipped The Bank A Note
Inside the bank, Burk followed enough of the script to avoid alerting the caller. “I need $15,000,” she told the teller, according to LoudounNow.
At the same time, she motioned for a piece of paper and wrote a quick note alerting the bank staff to what was happening. The bank staff called the Leesburg Police Department.
When an officer arrived, he picked up Burk’s phone and introduced himself. The scammer hung up.
The Scam Used A Real Fear With A Fake Emergency
The case shows why jury-duty scams can reach almost anyone. The call was not built around a prize, romance pitch, or obvious online trick. It used the fear of a real legal obligation and turned it into a fake emergency.
The caller claimed Burk had missed federal jury duty, said an arrest warrant had been issued, sent paperwork, demanded that she read the affidavit aloud, and pushed her toward a $15,000 payment.
Burk was told she could not safely go to law enforcement, could not end the call, and had to move money immediately to avoid arrest.
That is the same pattern Loudoun-area residents have been warned about before: callers impersonating law enforcement or court officials, claiming a missed jury-duty problem, and demanding money before the person can verify the story.
Leesburg Police Say Residents Should Verify Calls Separately
The Leesburg Police Department advises residents to be wary of unsolicited calls, texts, emails, or social media messages requesting money or personal information.
Police also warn residents not to make payments through gift cards, Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payment apps at the direction of someone they have not independently verified.
Anyone who receives a call threatening arrest, account closure, utility shutoff, or another immediate consequence should contact the company, government agency, or family member through a known and trusted number instead of using information provided by the caller.
Residents who believe they have been targeted by a scam should contact their financial institution immediately and report the incident to the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500.
Burk’s call ended because she found a way to alert bank staff while the scammer was still listening. The scammer stayed on the line until a real police officer answered.