Beware Of Fake Arrest Warrant Scam, Warns Mercer County Sheriff

MERCER COUNTY, NJ - The Mercer County Sheriff's Office is warning residents against a fake arrest warrant scam. The new scam is currently circulating in nearby Bucks County, PA and the Sheriff's office believes it could soon make its way to Mercer County.

According to local news media, scammers are reaching out to potential victims by sending fake arrest warrants by email, claiming to be from the Bucks County Sheriff's Office.

This scam is unique because the communications contain credible-looking warrants with the court's seal, the judge's name, and markings that the document comes from the Sheriff's Office, Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler said.

When calling potential victims by telephone, the scammers are spoofing Judiciary or the Sheriff's Office phone numbers and using the names of staff members to add to the appearance of credibility, authorities said.

The scammers then ask for money to make the charges go away while using high-pressure tactics, including the threat of arrest without immediate payment via pre-paid cards or online payment services like Venmo, Zelle, Paypal, etc.

“It is only a matter of time before it happens here, and I can confidently state that the Mercer County Sheriff's Office will never call or email anyone and ask for money related to a court warrant,” said Kemler.

“Unfortunately, it is difficult to crack down on these tech-savvy scammers because emails and calls are often generated from out-of-state or foreign locations”

While the matter remains under investigation in Pennsylvania, Kemler advised residents not to hit reply if they suspect an email might be a scam. If residents receive a call, they are advised to hang up.

Anyone receiving a similar email or call should report the incident to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office Communications Center at 609-989-6111.

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