HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – A long-running telephone scam is making the rounds in Hunterdon County.
The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office advise area residents to be aware of continuing phone scams in which perpetrators pose as members of law enforcement. This type of scam has been reported nationally as well as within Hunterdon County, officials said.
These arrest scams take many forms, but in most cases, the callers will inform victims a warrant has been issued for their arrest for failure to appear in court, failure to pay taxes, or other similar offenses, authorities said.
Callers may use the names of real members of law enforcement and may disguise their telephone numbers to make them appear as though they are coming from a local police department or sheriff’s office. Scammers will have victims withdraw money from their bank accounts and have them deposit it into fraudulent accounts. Scammers will supply victims with account numbers and PIN numbers and direct them to various locations, including Coin Star machines, to deposit the money, officials said.
“Legitimate law enforcement will never demand a fine or fee be paid using a gift card, cryptocurrency, or payment over the phone,” authorities said.
Authorities offer these tips:
- Never provide your Social Security number or date of birth to anyone who contacts you unsolicited.
- Never provide any financial information such as bank account or credit card numbers.
- Never purchase a product (gift card, cryptocurrency) to pay a debt.
If you receive a call regarding a debt or warrant from an individual claiming to be a member of law enforcement, get the name of the individual, hang up the phone, and look up the agency’s main telephone line. Call the main line – not one provided by the caller – and ask for that officer or deputy. Remain on the line to speak with that individual and confirm the inquiry is legitimate, officials said.
Residents are also encouraged to notify their local police department if they receive what appears to be a scam phone call, authorities said.
