Atlantic County's prosecutor and sheriff are warning residents of various scams pretending to be public entities.
One widespread scam via text message claims to be from the state Motor Vehicle Commission, Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds warns.
The message threatens enforcement action over alleged unpaid toll debt and directs recipients to click a link.
Don't do it, the prosecutor warns.
This message is fraudulent and not affiliated with the MVC or any legitimate government agency.
Instead of taking are care of an issue, it causes one, sending the user to a malicious website intended to steal personal and financial information.
“This is a scam—plain and simple," Reynolds said. "These messages are designed to intimidate you into acting quickly without thinking. Do not click the link. Do not provide any personal or financial information. The individuals behind these messages are attempting to mine your data and exploit your identity."
Government agencies do not issue threats or demand payment via text, he said.
"I urge the public to remain vigilant, verify any claims independently and report these incidents to law enforcement,” he said.
Residents are advised to take the following precautions:
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office continues to monitor and investigate fraudulent schemes targeting residents and remains committed to protecting the public from cyber-enabled crimes.
Meanwhile, Atlantic County Sheriff Joseph O'Donoghue put out a warning after his office received several complaints about calls claiming where the caller claimed to represent the Sheriff's Office and the Atlantic County Court system.
These scammers use artificial intelligence to create audio files from social media content that mimic the voice of a family member, claiming they are in trouble due to an accident or warrant with a $150,000 bond, and demand a payment of $15,000, or 10 percent of the bond, he explained.
These calls are designed to sound legitimate, including the use of real names and fake case numbers.
The numbers used are often registered in states like Virginia or Mississippi.
"We want to emphasize that the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office and the court system do not solicit money over the phone for bail or fines, and we do not send agents to collect money," O'Donoghue said.
Anyone who receives such a call is advised to document the details without proceeding with any payment and reach out to Officer TJ Snyder at 609-909-7200 or via email [email protected].
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office also can provide additional information or help at 609-909-7800.
