TOMS RIVER – Local authorities warned residents of telephone scammers who are spoofing the police department’s phone number.
The Toms River Police Department put out a statement after receiving several reports of fraud on October 19.
According to police, victims reported that they are receiving telephone calls from scammers from what appears to be the department phone number and using the names of current officers of the department. The scammer then goes on to tell the victim there is a warrant on for their arrest and they would need to pay a cash bail at a location that is not the Toms River Police Department.
“Please be aware of this scam and know that the Toms River Police Department, or any other law agency in the state, would never ask for cash in person, over the phone, or via digital payment services. If you receive a call asking for payment of any kind, hang up the phone and contact 911 to report the fraud in progress,” Toms River Police said.
“Do not utilize a phone number provided to you by the scammers and do not fall prey to the scammers pressure tactics,” police added.
