Fraudster Spoofs Police Phone Number, Scams South Brunswick Resident

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A South Brunswick resident was recently the victim of an arrest scam in which the police department’s phone number was “spoofed,” authorities said.

The scammer initially identified himself as a member of the United States Border Patrol and told the victim that an arrest warrant would be generated unless he sent them a payment, police said.

The man told police that the caller was very believable, and even provided personal identifying information on the victim, such as his Social Security number and driver’s license number. The man proceeded to withdraw funds, and the caller told him to convert the cash to bitcoin and provide him the QR codes and receipts as proof which the man did, according to police.

The man then received a call that his caller ID was identified as being from the South Brunswick Police Department’s non-emergency phone number. The caller stated he was the Chief of Police, and that officers were being sent to the man's house to arrest him, police said.

The caller then asked for information on the man’s finances. At that time, the man contacted the South Brunswick Police Department directly and learned that he was the victim of a scam, police said. The South Brunswick Police Department will never call someone to inform them about a police investigation or an arrest warrant and demand payment be made, nor will a federal agency like the US Border Patrol, the department said.

If you have a real warrant, police will not call you on the phone, they will knock on your door, and they will not demand money, gift cards, money transfers, or cryptocurrency. The police department has offered a few ways to spot scammers in the act:

• Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers manipulate caller ID to look like the call is coming from an official government number. Look up the agency’s number yourself, if you’re concerned, and give them a call. Don’t use the number in caller ID.
• Government agencies won’t call, text, or email you out of the blue to demand payment right away.
• A legitimate agency will never tell you to pay with gift cards, money transfers, or cryptocurrency.
• Never share personal information with anyone who contacts you. If you’re worried, look up the government agency’s information yourself to check with them.

If you have been the victim of a scam, report it to the police immediately.

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