Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon Warns That Telephone Scams Targeting The Elderly Persist

Published on May 01, 2020

Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon advises that senior citizens across Morris County and the state continue to be targeted through telephone scams by perpetrators who pressure the elderly for money by claiming their grandchild was in an accident or was arrested and needs bail money to be released.

Dozens of such incidents that have cheated victims out of thousands of dollars have been reported statewide in recent weeks, including several that have occurred in Morris County. The data has been collected by the Morris County Sheriff's Trends and Analysis Team (MCSTAT), which collaborates with other law enforcement agencies to track and monitor crime patterns and trends.

Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon

Sheriff Gannon urged caregivers and relatives of elderly residents to have clear and calm discussions with them that emphasize they should never agree to give money or personal financial information to a stranger, either in person or over the telephone. People who receive calls that purport money is needed immediately to resolve a problem or bail a person out of jail should immediately contact their local police department, the Sheriff advised.

Our elderly residents can be susceptible to financial crimes by perpetrators who sound authoritative or pressure them. Telephone scams that prey on people's emotions, or the fragility of the elderly, won't be tolerated in Morris County and there are ways to avoid being victimized by them, Sheriff Gannon said.

Recent incidents have involved callers telling victims a sum of money is needed and then sends a courier to their home to pick up the cash or directs the victim to wire the money or buy gift cards.

Last week, Sheriff Gannon advised the community to be alert to a scam in which imposters, exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic and targeting the elderly, claim cash bail is needed to free a person from incarceration.

A woman in Morris County recently fell prey to the scam in which she was contacted over the phone by a person from a bail bond company who claimed that a relative of hers needed cash for bail after being charged with a crime.

The perpetrator tried to add credence to his story by saying a courier would go to the woman's home to limit the potential for the spread of COVID-19 by having her avoid travel. The perpetrator went to the victim's home equipped with a mask and glove to retrieve the cash, according to authorities.

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS TO AVOID FALLING VICTIM TO PHONE OR DOOR-TO-DOOR SCAMS:

  • Always be suspicious of callers who claim urgent circumstances and demand immediate payment for any reason;
  • Don't agree to let a stranger visit your home to collect money or property;
  • Do not engage but report to police unsolicited, door-to-door attempts to sell you products that purport to cure or treat COVID-19.
  • Take notes of suspicious calls requesting money and try to gather information, including the incoming call number if available;
  • Call your local police department to report receiving calls pressuring you for money.

Sheriff Gannon previously warned of other fraud schemes that emerged when the COVID-19 outbreak began, including emails or solicitations that seek charitable contributions or offer general financial relief, cures, vaccines and Coronavirus testing kits.

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