Bergen Sheriff Warns of Jury Duty Phone Scam

A new scam has taken hold in Bergen County, and authorities are warning that it has residents paying for a “crime” they didn’t commit.

Residents throughout the county have fallen victim to a new jury duty phone scam, Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino warned in a release Wednesday. Scammers call county residents pretending to be from the Sheriff’s office, and accuse them of missing jury duty.

The callers say there is a warrant out for the person’s arrest, and that to lift the warrant, he or she must provide a credit card number or prepaid debit card to pay a fine, Saudino explained.

The phony callers are using pre-paid cell phones with a 201 area code to appear as if they are calling from a county line, the release said.

“If a government agency is to contact you via phone, it will be done utilizing a bona fide publicized government phone number” Saudino said. 

“All notices regarding jury duty come through the mail, including summonses to report for jury duty, and failure to report for jury duty. These notices are mailed directly from the New Jersey Judiciary Jury Management Office and give you specific information on who to contact, and how to comply with the summons.” 

According to the Sheriff, similar incidents have been reported in nearby counties, as well. Locally, municipal police departments are the Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

“No government agency will tell you to make payments to them through a bank or wire transfer,” Saudino said. 

“It is incumbent on all residents to be alert and it does not hurt to take the time to verify these incidents with us.”

Anyone who believes they may also have been exposed to this or a similar type fraud is asked to contact either the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office at 201-646-2222, www.bergentip.com, or a local police department.