Scammers Impersonate Mercer Officials, Demand $10K Bitcoin Payment For Fake Warrant

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey has issued a warning to the public on Tuesday about a recent phone scam involving a caller who fraudulently claimed to be a high-ranking officer with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

Last week, the Prosecutor’s Office was contacted by a victim reporting that they received a call from someone using a spoofed phone number that appeared to be from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

The caller falsely identified himself as "Lieutenant Adams" and claimed that a family member of the victim had an outstanding warrant and was required to provide a DNA sample. The scammer then instructed the victim to deposit $10,000 in cash into a Bitcoin ATM, allegedly to resolve the legal matter.

The Prosecutor’s Office has also received reports of similar scams delivered via text message, often impersonating state agencies such as the New Jersey Courts, DMV, MVC, or NJ E-ZPass. These messages typically urge recipients to click a link to pay a fine or fee, which is fraudulent.

Law enforcement agencies will never request money over the phone, nor will they demand payment through unconventional means such as cryptocurrency, wire transfers or gift cards. They will also never ask for personal or financial information that could be used for identity theft, Marbrey said.

Scammers frequently use internet research and social media to target victims. They may impersonate police officers or government officials and use spoofed phone numbers to make their calls appear legitimate. These techniques can make it difficult to identify the scam in real time, and victims are often threatened with arrest or legal action to pressure them into compliance.

Residents who receive a suspicious call claiming to be a police department within Mercer County or the Prosecutor’s Office, should confirm with whom they are speaking. If you believe you received a scam telephone call, do not provide any personal information.

Hang up and call the non-emergency phone number of the police department or Prosecutor’s Office (609-989-6351).

If legitimate, you will be connected to a police dispatcher or receptionist who can verify the caller’s identity.

Any suspected scam calls should be reported to your local law enforcement agency.

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