Scammers At Hoboken Park Asked For Basketball Team Donation, Stole Thousands: Police

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Hoboken police are asking for help in identifying three "persons of interest" in connection with a scheme that bilked someone out of $3,500 at a waterfront park, they said.

Police said that three people approached a woman at Pier C Park on April 30, seeking donations for their basketball team.

The woman used her phone to try to give them a donation via Zelle, police said. Then, according to police, one of the suspects grabbed the phone and transferred $3,500 to someone.

Police advised residents "to remain vigilant and exercise caution as suspects in these scams typically engage victims in friendly conversations and claim they are fundraising for sports teams, school programs, or nonprofit organizations."

Police added, "They often request donations via apps such as Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle. Once the victim agrees, the perpetrator uses the victim’s phone, either through deception by asking the victim to use their phone or claiming the transaction didn’t go through, or by using force. Then, the perpetrator transfers large sums of money without consent."

They said the "regional scam" has been reported in several locations in Hoboken including Hoboken Terminal, Washington Street, and both Pier A and Pier C parks.

Anyone with information about the incident, or the people involved, is asked to contact Officer Chelsea Tamborra of the Detective Bureau at
TamborraC@hobokenpdnj.gov or 201-420-2100 ext. 3109. All information will be kept confidential.

Safety Tips

Police offered these tips:

• Never hand your phone to a stranger.
• Enable app security features, such as requiring a PIN or fingerprint to authorize transactions.
• Be cautious of unsolicited donation requests in public places.
• If you believe you’ve been a victim of this scam, report it to the Hoboken Police Department immediately at 201-420-2100.