By: Richard L. Smith
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to stay alert as scammers continue targeting people with fraudulent phone calls claiming they have outstanding arrest warrants and must pay immediately to avoid being taken into custody.
According to information released by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the “You Have a Warrant” scam is part of a nationwide scheme in which criminals use spoofed phone numbers that appear to come from legitimate local law enforcement agencies.
Officials said the callers often operate from outside Morris County, outside New Jersey, or even outside the United States.
Authorities emphasized that the Sheriff’s Office will never request private or financial information over the telephone or demand payment to resolve a warrant.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that, in limited circumstances, its Warrant Squad may contact individuals who are overdue on child support payments, but only after official notification letters have already been sent.
Anyone who is unsure whether a warrant is legitimate should contact the Morris County Sheriff’s Office directly at 973-285-6640 to verify the information.
Officials are reminding the public that legitimate law enforcement agencies do not demand money, gift cards, wire transfers, or credit card payments to prevent an arrest.
Residents are encouraged to be cautious if they receive calls demanding immediate payment, avoid sharing personal or financial information with unsolicited callers, and never send money or provide debit or credit card information to someone they do not know.
Anyone who receives one of these scam calls should try to collect as much information as possible, including the caller’s name and phone number, and report the incident to their local police department.
Reports can also be made to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office at 973-285-6600 during regular business hours or 973-285-2900 after hours.