Secaucus Police Warn Of 2 Scams Going Around Town This Fall

SECAUCUS, NJ — At the most recent Secaucus town Council meeting last Tuesday night, Secaucus police warned about two scams being done around town in the months of October and November.

In the first, someone is calling Secaucus residents, and the phone number shows up as coming from the Secaucus police department non-emergency number ((201) 330-2060), said Councilman John Gerbasio. Such a call was made to residents in Harmon Cove Towers. The caller told the HCT residents they were the Secaucus police, and that their teenage son was in custody. The caller demanded money to have the teen released.

Fortunately, the Harmon Cove Towers residents were suspicious, and they hung up and reported the incident to the real Secaucus police.

The second scam involved people using some kind of fishing device to go into blue U.S. Postal Services boxes and remove envelopes that had checks inside. The checks were altered and cashed by the thieves.

This happened in at least two incidents in October, Councilman Gerbasio said. Gerbasio is the Secaucus police liaison to the town Council.

"A majority (of these thefts) have occurred in and around the center of town," said Secaucus Police Capt. Dennis Miller.

The Council asked that residents mail checks and other sensitive items at the Secaucus town post office instead of using the blue boxes.

Top photo of Harmon Cove towers by Carly Baldwin/Patch