Blairstown police warn of phone scams involving fake law enforcement, court and government officials
BLAIRSTOWN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — The Blairstown Police Department is warning New Jersey residents about phone scams involving callers impersonating law enforcement officers, court personnel and other government officials in an attempt to obtain money or personal information.
According to police, scammers may contact residents claiming they have an outstanding warrant or legal matter, instruct them to report to a local courthouse or threaten them with arrest if they fail to follow instructions.
Police said the scams are designed to frighten individuals into acting quickly without verifying whether the claims are legitimate.
Authorities emphasized that police departments and courts will not demand money over the phone to resolve outstanding warrants or court matters. Residents should never provide Social Security numbers, banking information, credit card details or other sensitive personal information to suspicious callers.
Police also warned residents not to purchase gift cards, send money or transfer cryptocurrency in response to demands made over the phone.
Scammers can manipulate caller ID information to make calls appear to originate from legitimate police departments or government offices, according to the department. As a result, residents should not assume a call is legitimate simply because the displayed phone number appears official.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call is advised to hang up immediately and avoid calling back the number provided by the caller. Instead, residents should contact their local police department or the appropriate courthouse using an independently verified phone number to confirm whether the claim is legitimate.
Residents who have already provided money or personal information to a suspected scammer should contact their local police department.
The department is also encouraging residents to share the warning with family members, friends and older adults who may be targeted by scammers.
Police reminded residents not to allow callers to pressure them into making immediate decisions over the phone and urged anyone who suspects a scam to contact law enforcement directly.
