Hoboken Resident Scammed By Fake DEA Call, Loses $9K: Police

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken police are warning residents to be aware of a phone scams after a victim lost about $9,000 to someone claiming to be from the DEA on Wednesday.

According to the Hoboken Police Department, the victim told officers that he got a call from a man who said he worked with the DEA. The man told him that the agency was about to arrest him for committing several crimes, but would give him the chance to “cooperate.”

The caller knew some of the victim’s personal information, which led him to believe the scam was legitimate, police said.

Here’s what happened next, Hoboken police said:

“The victim was instructed to go to the bank and withdraw all of his funds. A total of $17,000 was withdrawn from his account. He was later instructed to purchase Target gift cards and read back the codes to the unknown male. This process was repeated several times, including purchasing cards in Jersey City. The victim provided all the information on the cards. He later realized the call was not legitimate, but not before he suffered a loss of approximately $9,000.”

Hoboken police said that no federal agency will call residents and ask for money in gift cards.

“If anyone receives a call from someone claiming to be from the Drug Enforcement Agency, Social Security, Internal Revenue Service or any other federal or local agency, do not engage in conversation. Please hang up and notify the police department,” police stated.

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