LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – A common scam targeting grandparents is making the rounds in Lopatcong Township, police say.
The Lopatcong police are warning the public after some elderly residents in the township have been receiving phone calls by unknown individuals who are claiming to be associated with various law enforcement agencies from around the country.
The scammers have been telling the residents that their grandchild was involved in a serious car crash and they have been charged with a crime. They then tell the victim that they need to provide money to the scammer to assist in their grandchild’s legal defense, police said.
There have been many scams reported throughout New Jersey that have operated in the same way. In many of the cases, the scammers tell the victim that a courier will arrive at their residence in short amount of time to collect the money, police said.
In other cases, the scammers will instruct the victim to send the money by UPS to a given address, police said.
A few cases throughout New Jersey have reported that an individual does show up at the victim’s residence to collect the money or bring the victim to a bank to retrieve the money. These actions place the victim, and those they live with, in serious danger, police said.
Police urge residents not to comply with these types of scam phone calls and to notify police as soon as these calls are received. Also, do not give any sensitive personal information over the phone to any suspected scam call, police said.
