'Significant' Increase In Fraud Reports Recently, Morris Sheriff Says

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Fraudsters are using a varied range of methods to try and steal Morris County residents' money and/or personal information, the sheriff's office said.

Sheriff James Gannon's office issued an advisory about scams and fraud on Thursday, saying officials have seen "a significant increase" over the last six months in the number of these incidents reported to law enforcement.

Officials have warned residents of these types of tricks before, including the "grandparent scam" — where a caller says someone's grandchild was in an accident or gets arrested. In another scam, where the caller claims to be law enforcement and asks for money so the victim can avoid arrest.

"This has been the trend, not only at the Sheriff’s Office, but throughout Morris County," officials said. "Fraudsters try many tactics to pressure victims into providing personal information or paying a fee. They often convince victims to withdraw money from the bank to avoid being arrested."

Here are some common methods that scammers and fraudsters have been using to bilk residents out of their money and information, the sheriff's office said:

• Email, Facebook message, or phone call advising that your accounts have been hacked.
• Email or pop-up from Microsoft or the Geek Squad, claiming you owe money or have been hacked.
• Caller from a bank or other business, claiming to update their records by asking for personal data.
• Caller claiming to be law enforcement, stating there is a warrant for your arrest.
• Caller claiming your grandchild was in an accident and needs bail money.

Local police departments are also urging residents to educate themselves on these scam tactics and share information with others. Officials advise residents that callers who ask them to buy gift cards, or submit money to Bitcoin or a cash machine for payment, is not legitimate.

"Some scammers will tell you they need to get access to your computer to fix the problem," Gannon's office said. "This is a ploy, and you should never allow anyone access to your computer."

People who have questions or who need further guidance on these types of matters are asked to contact the Morris County Sheriff's Office at 973-285-6600 or their local police.

See the Facebook post below for full information: