In a sophisticated version of the failure-to-report-for-jury-duty scam, a woman lost $15,000 in cash after being contacted by two callers who claimed to be New Jersey State Police troopers – not Mercer County sheriff’s officers – and nearly lost an additional $150,000, according to the Hopewell Township Police Department.
The incident began on Sept. 24, when she was told that a warrant had been issued for her arrest. She was informed that she owed $15,000 in bail for state charges and $150,000 in bail for federal charges, police said. The callers told her to send $15,000 in cash through a Bitcoin ATM.
After sending the money and a photograph of her driver’s license, she was told to join a mandatory Zoom call that was presented to be a court appearance. During the call, she was told that she still owed $150,000.
The suspects told her that they would need to make payment arrangements, and that she would be under house arrest with hourly check-ins until bedtime. After four hours of continuous contact with the fake New Jersey State Police troopers, she and her husband decided to call the police – and that’s when she learned it was a scam.
The victim was advised to freeze her credit card accounts and to notify her bank. The incident remains under investigation.
