Phone Scam In Essex County Involves ‘Car With Blood And Money’

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police in Fairfield are warning residents about a phone scam involving a bloody car full of money, which recently conned a victim out of $3,100.

According to the Fairfield Police Department, the perpetrators of the scam are using the FPD’s main phone number to make the ruse seem more credible.

Police became aware of the scheme on Monday, when a victim contacted them after being scammed for $3,100.

Here’s how it allegedly happened, according to authorities:

“The unknown suspects contacted the victim by phone claiming to be with the FBI and telling them that a car was recovered with blood and a large amount of money in it that they claimed was registered to the victim. They then told the victim that they were working with the Fairfield Police Department and that they would have the Fairfield Police Department contact them to confirm this. The victim was then contacted by an unknown individual with a number that appeared on caller ID to be coming from the Fairfield Police Department’s main number (973) 227-1400 but was actually a false internet phone number. The caller claimed to be a Fairfield police officer and told the victim to cooperate with the FBI when they called back. The victim was again contacted by the suspects who again claimed to be from the FBI. They then instructed the victim to go to various stores and locations to purchase gift cards. The suspects then told the victim to give them the card numbers and for them to then shred the cards.”

Fairfield police said that anyone who receives a similar phone call shouldn't act on it. Instead, they should contact their local law enforcement agency, either by phone or in person to inquire about the legitimacy of what they were told.

Never send anything of value or give any personal information to any unknown callers, Fairfield police advised.

“We know that every day, there are confidence crimes being committed against an unsuspecting public but it is that much worse when they use law enforcement agencies to gain the trust needed to facilitate their crimes,” Police Chief Anthony Manna said.

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