Atlantic County Sheriff warns of law enforcement impersonation scam

Atlantic County Sheriff Joe O’Donoghue has issued a warning regarding a widespread phone scam targeting residents across New Jersey. In these incidents, perpetrators impersonate law enforcement officers to intimidate victims.

Scammers are reportedly using caller ID spoofing to make calls appear as though they are coming directly from a Sheriff’s office. They are also using the actual names of current or retired Sheriff officers to increase credibility. Victims may be threatened with outstanding arrest warrants, missed grand jury duties, unpaid taxes, or unpaid court fines.

In some instances, fraudsters have provided forged court documents featuring official seals and the names of retired judges. The scammers demand immediate payment via cash, wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, threatening arrest if the demands are not met. O’Donoghue emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies do not conduct business in this manner.