Warren County Sheriff’s Office warns public about scammers posing as law enforcement
WARREN COUNTY, N.J. — The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about scammers impersonating law enforcement officers and using threats of arrest to trick people into sending money or providing personal information.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are manipulating caller ID information to make fraudulent calls appear to originate from an official law enforcement telephone number. They may also use the names of current or retired officers to convince potential victims that they are speaking with someone from the Sheriff’s Office.
During the calls, fraudsters often claim the person has an outstanding arrest warrant, missed grand jury duty, unpaid taxes or owes court fines or fees. They then threaten arrest or other legal consequences unless immediate payment is made.
In some cases, victims have received fraudulent arrest warrants featuring official-looking court seals and the names of deceased judges to make the documents appear authentic. Scammers typically demand payment through cash, wire transfers, prepaid gift cards or cryptocurrency, claiming the money must be sent immediately to avoid arrest.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that it will never contact individuals by telephone, text message or email demanding money or personal information. Officials are urging anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up immediately and avoid following the caller’s instructions.
The public is also advised not to send money or provide personal or financial information to anyone claiming to represent law enforcement without independently verifying their identity. Anyone concerned about a legitimate legal matter should contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office directly using an independently verified telephone number or reach out to their local police department.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by a scam or fraudulent activity is encouraged to report their concerns to law enforcement. Officials also remind the public that caller ID information can be manipulated, meaning a call appearing to originate from a legitimate government agency does not necessarily mean it is authentic.
