SCAM ALERT: Fake Arrest Warrant Scheme Circulating in Hunterdon County

RARITAN TWP., N.J. (Hunterdon County) — On Sept. 25, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office advised area residents to remain vigilant as criminal actors continue to pose as law enforcement claiming that a warrant has been issued for their arrest for failure to appear in court, failure to pay taxes, or other related offenses.

“Callers may use the names of real members of law enforcement and may disguise their telephone numbers to make them appear as though they are coming from a local police department or sheriff's office,” according to a joint statement released by the county prosecutor’s office and sheriff’s office in April.

Once contact is made, these scammers instruct victims to withdraw money from their bank accounts and deposit it into fraudulent accounts. They provide account numbers, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), and direct victims to locations such as Coin Star machines to deposit the money. In some cases, victims may also receive text messages requesting signatures and a voicemail that states individuals are calling the Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office.

The County’s law enforcement agencies are reminding residents that legitimate law enforcement will NEVER demand a fine or fee be paid using a gift card, cryptocurrency, or payment over the phone.

To protect yourself from this scam, NEVER:

• Provide your Social Security number or date of birth to anyone who contacts you unsolicited or any financial information (e.g., bank account or credit card numbers); or
• Purchase a product (e.g., gift card, cryptocurrency) to pay a debt.

If you receive a call regarding a debt or warrant from an individual claiming to be a member of law enforcement, get the name of the individual, hang up the phone, and look up the agency's main telephone line. Call the main line – NOT what the caller provided and ask for that officer or deputy. Please remain on the line to speak with that individual and confirm the inquiry is legitimate.

Residents concerned they may have been scammed can also contact the Raritan Township Police Department’s non-emergency phone number at: (908) 782-8889.

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