Alert: Scammers calling residents, posing as sheriff’s officers
Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler has issued a warning to area residents regarding telephone scammers posing as Mercer County Sheriff’s Officers.
Over the past month, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office has received complaints about callers claiming to be sheriff’s officers, asking residents for personal bank account information or cash payments. The scammers identify themselves as officers for Mercer County and provide fictitious badge numbers. The callers say they have an arrest warrant related to money laundering charges and need access to the resident’s bank accounts. The scammers also suggest meeting at a location and tell the resident to bring cash for bail or fines or face arrest.
“I can state with confidence the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office will never call anyone and ask for their bank account number or to meet in an odd location to pay bail or fines with cash,” Kemler said.
The calls remain under investigation. Officials said it is difficult to crack down on telephone scammers because calls are often generated from phone banks located out of state.
Do not give out personal information such as a social security number, a bank account number, or date of birth over the phone. If you suspect a call is a scam, hang up. Anyone who receives a scam call should report it to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office at 609-989-6111.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.