By: Richard L. Smith
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and Morris County Sheriff’s Office are alerting residents about an ongoing scam in which criminals pose as law enforcement officers, aggressively seeking fines for alleged non-appearances for jury duty, according to a statement released by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
In the past two weeks, Morris County officials have received two reports of similar scams. Fraudsters call victims, claiming a warrant has been issued for their arrest due to failing to appear for jury duty.
In the statement, officials said the scammers often impersonate police officers, providing titles and badge numbers, and may use actual names of Morris County officers.
They also manipulate the victim’s caller ID to make it appear as if the call is coming from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, or the Morris County Courthouse.
The scammers typically instruct the victim not to contact anyone and to keep the matter confidential, threatening arrest if they do not comply.
Residents are advised to report any suspicious calls regarding alleged non-appearance for jury duty to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office at 973-285-6600 during the day and 973-285-2900 after hours to verify agency personnel.
Prevention Tips to Avoid Falling Victim to this Scam:
- Legitimate law enforcement agencies will not ask for money card information, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to avoid arrest.
- Be suspicious of callers or texts demanding immediate payment or "fines" for any reason.