Fake Emails Posing As Metuchen Zoning Board Sent To Residents

METUCHEN, NJ — Some Metuchen residents have received a fraudulent email made to look like it came from the borough's Zoning Board of Adjustment, borough officials said.

The email says the recipient owes an outstanding application review and approval fee tied to a variance application for a property, according to the example the borough posted. It asks the recipient to pay an attached invoice so the application can move forward.

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The email lists three next steps: reply to request wire instructions, pay the fee in full by wire, and return a signed copy of the payment confirmation to be added to the commission agenda.

The borough's IT department and police have been notified, according to a notice from the borough.

"If you receive an email similar to this one, please disregard," the borough said.

The warning comes after the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office cautioned residents Tuesday about government impersonation scams across the county. The office said 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 offered these tips:

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

• Government agencies will not ask for money over the phone.

• 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.

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

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 Federal Trade Commission and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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