ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County public safety officials are warning residents to be aware of a "fake bail" scam that is targeting families of people who have been arrested.
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens and Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones urged people to be vigilant about the ongoing scheme, which also cropped up last year.
According to local authorities, scammers are posing as law enforcement officers, attorneys or court personnel. The scammers demand bail payments through mobile payment apps such as Apple Pay and Zelle – and some victims have been swindled out of thousands of dollars.
One victim reported sending over $11,000 to scammers via Zelle, authorities said.
"We want to remind the public that with the advent of criminal justice reform in New Jersey, bail is a thing of the past in virtually all instances," Stephens said.
"While bail may be required in certain cases, no legitimate request for payment will ever be made through Apple Pay, Zelle or any other digital platform," he added.
"Anyone who receives a call demanding bail payments, should not send money – it is a scam", Stephens said.
Authorities said anyone with information or who has been targeted by the scam can contact the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.
BAIL REFORM IN NEW JERSEY
In 2014, New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment that paved the way for a massive overhaul of the state's bail system. The rules that rolled out in 2017 effectively eliminated cash bail for people accused of crimes.
Under the old system, large numbers of people accused of low-level offenses were kept in jail for months – and sometimes for years – because they couldn't afford to pay bail. Meanwhile, potentially dangerous defendants were able to secure their release as long as they had the cash, another loophole that was closed under the state's bail reform efforts, according to NJcourts.gov.
Now, judges are instructed to use an "objective" risk-assessment tool to decide whether to detain people who pose a "serious risk of flight" or a "danger to the public." Judges consider factors such as the defendant's age at the time of arrest, pending charges, prior convictions, prior failures to appear in court and previous jail sentences.
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