Mercer Residents Targeted By AI-Based Phone Scams Impersonating Deputies: Sheriff

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler is warning residents once again about telephone scammers posing as officers from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.

Recently, the Sheriff's Office has received a surge of complaints from the public regarding phone scams that request money, personal bank information, and access to various financial transactions.

The scammers, using a spoofed 609 area code, fake email addresses, and fake website links, sometimes pretend to be senior Mercer County Sheriff's Officers, often claiming to be a specific Court Division Sergeant.

They claim there is an urgent issue involving an arrest warrant, missing grand jury duty, or other legal matters, and they demand immediate payment or provide personal information, such as bank account details and Social Security numbers.

Kemler expressed his frustration at the sophisticated scam and is asking the public to become more aware of these telecom swindlers.

“Alarmingly, they use the names of actual Sheriff's officers, making their calls appear legitimate when searched online, or tapping websites,” Kemler said.

"Everyone, including myself, is disturbed about these scams. They sound extremely convincing and are happening far too frequently in our area.”

Unfortunately, it is a challenge to combat telephone scammers because these calls are often generated from sophisticated international phone banks or outside the state, and many are AI-based, Kemler admitted.

"I remind residents that the Mercer County Sheriff's Office will never-ever call anyone to request personal account information or ask for money to resolve a warrant or any other legal matter within my jurisdiction."

While the calls are under investigation, exercising common sense is essential, authorities said.

If you suspect for even a single moment that a call may be a scam, do not provide any personal information and do not stay on the line; hang up immediately. Anyone who receives such a call should report it to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office at 609-989-6111.

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