Middlesex County Sheriff Warns Of Scam Targeting Residents

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office is advising residents to be aware of a continuing phone scam that is targeting the area.

In the most recent scam calls, the caller (sometimes via voice message) uses the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office information and identifies himself or herself as an employee with the agency. The caller claims the resident has an outstanding federal warrant for non-appearance for jury duty and demands immediate payment using a prepaid credit card. The caller requests the prepaid credit card information over the phone and arranges to meet the resident at the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office and provides the correct physical address of 701 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick.

However, this is a scam, the county sheriff warns: The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office will never solicit methods of payment and/or personal identifiers over the phone. Residents should never give their personal or financial information over the phone and should not agree to meet anyone to provide prepaid credit card information.

• Legitimate law enforcement agencies will not tell people to provide prepaid gift card information to avoid arrest.
• Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason.
• Never give out personal or financial information to anyone who emails or calls you unsolicited.
• Never wire money, provide debt or credit card numbers or Green Dot Money Pak card numbers to someone you do not know.

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