Glen Rock Resident Scammed Out of Nearly $2,000 in Text Message Fraud

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, a local resident fell victim to a text message scam last Friday, losing $1,998.98 to a fraudster posing as their daughter.

According to Glen Rock Police, the scam began when the victim received a text from someone claiming to be their daughter. The message stated that she had broken her work phone and urgently needed money to replace it. Believing the request to be genuine, the parent sent the money via Zelle.

Shortly after, they discovered the request was a fraudulent scam—the real daughter had never sent the message. It remains unclear how the scammer convinced the victim, given that the daughter’s phone was supposedly broken.

Investigation & Warnings

📌 The victim has notified their bank, and the case has been referred to the Glen Rock Police Detective Bureau for further investigation.

📌 This scam is part of a growing trend of impersonation fraud, often targeting parents and grandparents with urgent, emotional pleas for money. These scams, sometimes called “grandparent scams,” manipulate victims into acting quickly before verifying the request.

How to Protect Yourself from Text Message Scams

✔ Verify the sender – If you receive an urgent request for money, call or message the person directly on a known number.
✔ Watch for red flags – Scammers often create a sense of urgency and demand payment through Zelle, Venmo, gift cards, or wire transfers.
✔ Never share banking information – If a request feels suspicious, check with your bank before sending money.
✔ Report suspicious activity – If you suspect fraud, notify local police and your bank immediately.

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