Bergen County Prosecutor Warns Residents of Impersonation & Extortion Phone Scam Targeting Locals
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack , NJ — Local law enforcement is issuing an urgent warning to New Jersey residents following a surge in sophisticated phone scams. Fraudsters are impersonating officers from the Bergen County Corrections and Rehabilitation Center (commonly known as the Bergen County Jail) and demanding immediate cash payments under threat of arrest.
Authorities are urging anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up immediately and contact officials at (201) 336-3500.
How the Bergen County Jail Phone Scam Works
This extortion scheme uses a high-pressure combination of official-sounding language and technical tricks to scam unsuspecting victims out of thousands of dollars:
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Caller ID Spoofing: Fraudsters use spoofing software to make incoming calls appear on your screen as the official Bergen County Sheriff’s Office or local law enforcement agencies.
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Impersonating Real Personnel: Callers state they are deputies, administrative staff, or officers, often dropping the real names or titles of current or retired officers to build instant credibility.
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Fabricated Arrest Warrants: Victims are told they have an active warrant for missing jury duty (contempt of court), failing to respond to a subpoena, or having an unpaid citation.
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Leveraging Public Records: To sound legitimate, scammers cite real personal details pulled from public records, such as full names, home addresses, ages, or past traffic fines.
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High-Pressure Demands: The victim is told to pay immediately to “clear the warrant” or pay “bail” while being ordered to stay on the phone so they cannot call authorities to verify.
Red Flags & Payment Demands
Scammers demand payment using untraceable methods, including:
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Prepaid debit cards (such as GreenDot)
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Peer-to-peer money apps (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App)
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Gift cards
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Kiosk or deposit transfers
Official Law Enforcement Protocol:
Police departments, sheriff offices, and court systems in New Jersey NEVER call residents demanding immediate phone payments, wire transfers, or gift cards to resolve warrants or missed jury duty. Official warrants are processed through formal court appearances or served in person.
What to Do If You Receive a Call
If you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to represent the Bergen County Jail or Sheriff’s Office:
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🛑 Hang Up Immediately: Do not provide any sensitive personal information, social security numbers, or banking details.
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📞 Verify Independently: Disconnect the call and look up the official contact number for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office or Sheriff’s Office.
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🚨 Report the Incident: Report fraudulent calls or financial losses to local police, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit, or call (201) 336-3500.
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