MINE HILL TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office CAREs (Crimes Against Retired & Elderly) team joined residents at Mine Hill Day on Sept. 20 to educate the community about scams targeting seniors and retirees.
The CAREs team, part of the Financial Crimes Unit, answered questions and shared tips with residents during the event at Firemen’s Field. Their goal was to help attendees recognize red flags, understand common fraud tactics, and learn what to do if they suspect they are being targeted.
Since its creation, the CAREs program has hosted seminars across Morris County and statewide webinars for prosecutors and investigators. Upcoming presentations are scheduled for the Golden Age Club on Sept. 28 in Oak Ridge, and at the Morris Plains Community Center on Oct. 20 and Nov. 10.
Criminals often try to provoke an emotional response from victims, officials explained, citing scams where fraudsters pose as grandchildren in need of bail money or send texts claiming a device has been hacked. Residents are advised to verify emergencies directly with family or companies rather than responding to unsolicited calls or messages.
Some of the most common scams include spoofed bank alerts and package tracking links that steal personal data, fake job offers or interviews, telemarketing schemes, and romance or friendship scams designed to solicit wire transfers or cryptocurrency investments.
The CAREs team shared several tips to avoid falling victim, including changing social media privacy settings, not clicking on suspicious links or attachments, never showing identification on a web camera, and being wary of requests for payments through wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
They also reminded residents that “New Jersey does not have cash bail, so if someone claims to need money for bail, it is probably a scam.”
