Uber Driver Saves Woman From $25K Phone Scam In South Jersey

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — A woman walked into an Uber with nearly $25,000 in cash. The driver prevented her from giving it to a scammer, according to Washington Township police.

The victim, a 78-year-old Washington Township resident, nearly lost $24,600 in the elaborate scheme. On Wednesday, police shared how the events unfolded in an effort to prevent others, especially seniors, from falling victim.

Last month, the victim received a text message claiming her iCloud account was compromised. The message included a fraudulent link, which led to a phone number in Hawaii, police said.

When the victim called, an unknown woman told her that she needed to pay a fee to resolve the issue. The caller asked the victim how much money she had in her bank account and told her to withdraw it all, police said.

As the victim retrieved the cash from the bank, she received a second call that spoofed the Washington Township Police Department's number (856-589-6650). A man pretending to be a police officer told her to contact another person, who posed as a banker named David.

The scammers pressured her to deliver the cash to a location on Fries Mill Road as quickly as possible. The victim had an Uber take her there, but the driver sensed something wrong, police said.

The driver asked the victim whether she knew who she was meeting and if she was carrying a large amount of cash. When the victim confirmed, the driver warned her she was being scammed and immediately drove her back to the bank to redeposit the money, according to law enforcement.

"These scammers are sophisticated and use technology to make their calls appear legitimate—even using our police department's phone number to gain trust," said the Washington Township Police Department. "This could happen to anyone! That’s why we’re taking action to educate and protect our community."

The WTPD and the FBI are partnering for a free senior scam seminar, open to Washington Township residents only. It will take place at 11 a.m. March 27 at the Washington Township Senior Center (315 Greentree Rd., Sewell).

Visit the Federal Trade Commission's website for tips on recognizing and handling phone scams.