'Professional' Phone Scammers Pretend To Be Cherry Hill Police, Department Says

CHERRY HILL, NJ —Police say phone scammers continue calling Cherry Hill residents and asking them to supply gift cards to avoid arrest, or to donate to the police department.

This is part of a professional, nationwide scam, the Cherry Hill Police Department said. The call may show up as coming from the police department's non-emergency number (856-665-1200). The caller will claim to be from the department, police said.

"These scammers have asked victims to pay fines over the phones, informed them that they have warrants and asked for monetary donations," the CHPD said on Wednesday.

In some cases, the callers say the citizens are wanted and tell them to pay with a gift card to avoid arrest, police said.

Cherry Hill officers will never call to ask residents to pay a fine or to inform them they have a warrant, the department said.

"The Cherry Hill Police Department will NEVER call to ask you to pay a fine or a warrant over the phone," police said, adding that officers are also not soliciting for donations.

Police told residents about this scam in early October, too.

Police say anyone who receives a call like this should hang up, and not give out any information. Then, call the non-emergency line (856-665-1200) to report it.

"Please be sure that you do not call the number back to do so, type the number into your phone instead," police said.