Officials report dealer-plate fraud and phone scams targeting elderly in Fairfield

At a July 8 Fairfield meeting, speakers described two related fraud patterns: forged dealer license plates being produced and automated or live phone calls that impersonate a police chief to demand money from residents, often targeting older adults.

"They're using our names. They're calling people with our names saying this is chief Paris and you owe us speeding ticket and you owe us this much money," said Jude Thwad, a meeting speaker. Thwad said the department has passed a dealer-plate matter to its detective bureau after Officer Mia Barrow uncovered evidence of a company producing forged metal plates.

A separate speaker identified only as a committee member described receiving a notice that a zoning variance had been approved and instructing a payment of $3,800 to the Fairfield Zoning Board to confirm an application; the speaker said that billing came to the speaker’s client unexpectedly and that Chris Rogers would follow up by phone. The committee member called that notice "crazy" and said it appeared irregular.

Meeting speakers said the scams appear to be both postal/online billing frauds and phone scams that exploit department names and titles. Officials said they alerted the state motor vehicle agency about the forged plates and that the detective bureau is conducting further investigation. No arrests or prosecutions were reported in the meeting record.

The meeting did not provide additional contact details or a case number; speakers urged residents to verify any unexpected bills or calls by contacting department offices directly rather than sending funds in response to a solicitation.