Hunterdon County has been overwhelmed by calls from individuals posing as employees of the Internal Revenue Service demanding payment for tax money owed, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III, said.
FLEMINGTON - The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office has joined with local police, the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell to track and investigate on-line and telephone crimes, also known as confidence schemes.
These crimes, also known as confidence schemes, are committed by contacting a person and making them believe the e-mail or caller is a representative of a bank, an online retail company or government agency, according to the prosecutor's office.
Hunterdon County has been overwhelmed by calls from individuals posing as employees of the Internal Revenue Service demanding payment for tax money owed, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III, said. Similar scams are also taking place across Central Jersey.
These thieves demand payment through gift cards or wire transfers. Unfortunately, a number of residents have been taken advantage of by these criminals and lost significant sums of money, Kearns said.
"While the threat to our senior citizens is of great concern because of their vulnerabilities and trusting nature, it is important that all citizens remain alert to this type of criminal activity," Kearns said. "Through this partnership with the New Jersey State Police and the NJCCIC, we are hoping to bring awareness and eliminate this victimization."
Why are scammers telling victims to buy gift cards?
Many residents and businesses have fallen victim of confidence schemes that began through an e-mail, a phone call or when someone has visited a website.
Nearly all the confidence schemes revolve around the victim sending money, disclosing account information, or disclosing other personal information such as passwords.
The prosecutor's office says that unsolicited e-mails and phone call from those asking for money, credit cards information, Paypal, gift cards, wire transfers, social security, bank account or any account information are often a scheme to steal money, or identity in order to access accounts.
Following a few simple precautions, most people can avoid becoming a victim of a confidence scheme:
Do not reply to or click on links included in the body of unsolicited e-mails.
Telephone calls
Do not engage in conversations with anyone you don't know; especially about money. Report the activity to authorities
Verify
If you are suspicious, contact the company or agency being represented by telephone using the official listing for their customer service.
Scare tactics
These are often used by thieves to demand money or personal information. These tactics can include telephone calls and e-mails in which the thieves threaten you with bad credit, criminal charges, arrest, or an audit from an alleged governmental agency. These are all scams meant to scare an unsuspecting person to rush and hastily fulfill a demand.
Be vigilant
"Citizens who receive suspicious calls or emails demanding money should contact their local police department and report the incident," Kearns said. "Local law enforcement officers will take the information and forward it to an intelligence database maintained by the New Jersey State Police and NJCCIC for further analysis. These reports will allow law enforcement to track the perpertrators and educate the public about new scams.
"Vigilance is important. In law enforcement, our best weapon against crime is an educated and knowledgeable public. We constantly remind people that if you see something, say something."
A link to New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell is on the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office website and on the Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers website.