HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. — The Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers and falsely claim victims missed federal grand jury duty.
Authorities said the Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports of fraudulent calls demanding payment to avoid arrest.
In one reported case, a resident was told they owed a $35,000 fine for allegedly missing jury duty. The caller then claimed the amount could be reduced to $3,500 if it was paid immediately.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the scammer instructed the resident to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards from Walmart and provide the card information over the phone as payment.
Officials said alert Walmart employees recognized the situation as a scam and warned the resident before any money was lost. The incident was later reported to the Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities reminded residents that legitimate law enforcement agencies do not request payments, gift cards, personal information or account access over the phone.
The Sheriff’s Office advised anyone receiving similar calls, text messages or electronic communications to delete them immediately and avoid responding, clicking on links or scanning QR codes.
Officials urged residents to report suspected scams to their local police department.
