Fake Warrants, Jury Duty Calls Target Middlesex County Residents

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ - Scammers posing as government officials are targeting Middlesex County residents with threats of arrest, fines and frozen assets, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday.

The office said government impersonation scams have been prevalent in the county and keep changing as cryptocurrency and payment apps become more common. Scammers most often call, but they also use email, text messages, social media messages and U.S. mail to pose as an agency and gain trust.

How To Protect Yourself

The prosecutor’s office said federal, state and local law enforcement will never ask for payments. Government agencies will not ask for money over the phone, and they will not send anyone to your home to collect it.

Residents were also told to watch for pressure to keep the contact secret. Anyone told to stay on the phone and not tell family or law enforcement should end the call, the office said.

Other tips from the alert:

• Do not give cash, gift cards, gold bars or cryptocurrency to strangers.

• Do not share personal information, including a driver’s license number, Social Security number or bank account information.

• Scammers can spoof the number of a law enforcement agency. Get the caller’s name, end the call and call the agency back to check if the call was real.

• If someone comes to your home demanding cash, or you are told not to call local police or family, call 911.

• Block the phone numbers and send emails to junk for any suspected fraud attempts.

Arrest Warrant Scam

In this scam, fraudsters email and text photos of real and doctored law enforcement credentials and badges to appear legitimate. They threaten arrest, fines or other penalties to push victims into acting fast. Some give the victim a code or password to hand over to a fake “law enforcement agent” or courier who comes to the home.

The office said versions of this scam include claims that:

• A package with the victim’s name on it was seized, and the victim must provide a driver’s license and money to fix the issue.

• The victim missed a jury summons, and an arrest warrant was issued.

• Child sexual abuse material was found on the victim’s email or computer, and payment will resolve the matter.

• Bank payments were linked to narcotics sales in other countries, and fines must be paid to the government.

• The victim has overdue E-ZPass payments.

Jury Duty Scam

Residents have received calls from people pretending to be with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, the alert said. The callers claimed the residents were subpoenaed for court and did not show up, then said active arrest warrants had been issued and gave fake warrant numbers. Residents were told they could pay fines to avoid arrest.

Courts and government agencies will never ask for payment over the phone, and courts never ask potential jurors for personal identifying information such as a Social Security number, the office said.

Surrogate’s Office & Probate Court Scam

Residents who recently handled real estate matters have received calls from people claiming to be with the Middlesex County Surrogate’s Office or Probate Court, according to the alert. The callers said there was a problem with an application and demanded extra fees. Some also posed as attorneys, debt collectors and estate service providers, demanding immediate payment of fake fees and threatening legal action or frozen assets.

Residents should call the Surrogate’s Office directly at 732-745-3055, not the number the caller gives, and speak with an estate attorney before making any payment, the office said.

How To Report

Anyone who thinks they are being victimized should call 911 or their local police department, the prosecutor’s office said. Scams can also be reported to the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

More resources are available on the Middlesex County website.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com