Callers posing as Union County Sheriff's Officers are demanding payment from residents over the phone, prompting Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli's office to issue a public warning Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The scammers claim victims owe money for service of process or missed jury duty, then pressure them to pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. The Sheriff's Office said it will never call and demand payment over the phone for any reason.
Don't fall for it.
Summit, New Providence and Berkeley Heights residents all fall within Union County and are directly in the scam's target zone.
What to do if you get the call:
- Hang up immediately.
- Do not give out personal or financial information.
- Call the Union County Sheriff's Office at 908-527-4450 to verify whether a caller is a legitimate officer.
- Report the contact to the Sheriff's Office or your local police department's non-emergency line.
The office urged residents to share the warning with friends and family, particularly anyone who may be vulnerable to this type of call.
Morris County faces parallel scam
Residents in Chatham and Madison, which fall in Morris County, face a parallel threat. Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon issued a separate warning on Monday, Aug. 3, about scammers claiming victims have active arrest warrants for failing to appear for jury duty.
In that version, callers use phone number spoofing technology to make their caller ID display the legitimate Morris County Sheriff's Office number, (973) 285-6610. They also send victims fraudulent documents with official-looking seals, signatures and court information to make the scheme appear real.
Gannon's office noted that scammers pressure victims to stay on the line and discourage them from contacting family members, attorneys or law enforcement to verify the claims. Older adults are frequently targeted.
Both agencies stressed that legitimate court matters and arrest warrants are handled through established legal procedures, never through demands for immediate payment over the phone. The Morris County warning added that caller ID can be manipulated and should not be trusted to verify who is calling.
Anyone who believes they were contacted by a scammer can reach the Union County Sheriff's Office at 908-527-4450 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office at (973) 285-6610.
