Morris Sheriff: Latest Phone Scam Targeting County Residents

Published on January 14, 2020

The Morris County Sheriff's Office advises county residents of the resurgence of a telephone scam that falsely uses the Morris County Sheriff's Office name while targeting residents for personal information.(PNG, 239KB)

A caller recently identified himself as an employee of the Morris County Sheriff's Office in a conversation with an individual, requested personal identifying information and warned that the individual had to surrender at a particular location on an active warrant.

Scam callers also have requested that victims purchase gift cards and provide the gift card numbers to them.

The Morris County Sheriff's Office will never solicit private or financial information in a telephone call. Such calls should immediately be reported to local police or to the Morris County Sheriff's Office at 973-285-6600 during the day and at 973-285-2900 after hours.

The Morris County Sheriff's Office Warrants Squad, on a limited basis, may call individuals who are overdue on child support payments after those individuals previously have been notified by official letter. To verify the legitimacy of a warrant, call the Morris County Sheriff's Office at 973-285-6640.

In the event you receive a call from a person purporting to be a Morris County Sheriff's Officer or from a law enforcement agency, never give personal or financial information over the telephone. Never agree to meet such a caller at any random location. Hang up and verify the legitimacy of the call by dialing an official, listed number for the agency, said Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon.

Similar scams surfaced in Morris County in 2018 and 2019 in which callers posed as Morris County Sheriff's Officers and sought personal information and Green Dot MoneyPak cards to pay for false warrants, civil process fees, overdue IRS payments and fines for non-appearance for jury service.

All Agency Information and Contacts can be Accessed and Verified through the Morris County Sheriff's Office website: WWW.SHERIFF.MORRISCOUNTYNJ.GOV.

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS TO AVOID FALLING VICTIM TO PHONE SCAMS:(PNG, 310KB)

• Legitimate law enforcement agencies will not tell people to provide money card information to avoid arrest.
• Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason.
• Never provide personal or financial information to anyone who emails or calls you, unsolicited.
• Never wire money, provide debit or credit card numbers or Green Dot MoneyPak card numbers to a stranger.
• Remember that anyone who has the number of a Green Dot MoneyPak card has access to funds on the card.
• If you receive a scam phone call, try to gather names, the incoming telephone number and other details, and immediately report the call to local police.