(Camden, NJ) – The Camden County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a phone scam where individuals are posing as Sheriff’s Officers and calling residents claiming they have outstanding warrants or fines and asking them for payment.
The scammers are using spoofed law enforcement phone numbers, along with the names, positions, and addresses of officers. The following is a list of suspicious activity to look out for related to this scam:
- Calls stating an individual has fines for outstanding warrants.
- Calls stating the court is holding the individual in contempt for failure to appear for jury duty.
- Calls stating an individual has been placed under a “gag order” and is not allowed to speak with anyone else regarding the matter.
- Calls demanding you remain on the line until the “bond” is paid.
- Requests for monetary gift cards (visa/green dot etc.) bank deposits, and voucher purchases to clear court fines or avoid jail time.
- Requests for videos or pictures of individuals conducting a personal strip search of themselves to clear court fines or avoid jail time.
“If you receive a call or voicemail from the Sheriff’s Office demanding money for a warrant, do not respond,” said Camden County Sheriff Gilbert “Whip” Wilson. “Instead, call your local police department and report the call. Please remember, the Sheriff’s Office will never call you to send money to clear a warrant. Lastly, we will never ask you for additional personal or financial information.”
Victims of phone or online scams can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office at (856) 225-8400, the Sheriff’s Office at (856) 225-5470, or your local police department.