Sheriff Warns of Phony Civil Calls that Threaten Arrest and Ask for Money

Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger. (WHAV News file photograph.)

The Essex County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents about the most recent phishing/phone scams in which the caller pretends to be a sheriff’s deputy calling about a legal civil matter,

Some calls threatened a warrant has been issued for arrest for failure to report for jury duty and request Visa cards to pay for these warrants. The call-back number is not the sheriff’s office.

“At no time would an Essex County Sheriff’s Department employee call people to demand payment,” said Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger. “Callers demanding payment in a short amount of time is an obvious sign of a scam and illegal attempt to defraud citizens.”

Coppinger further reminds residents to not share personal or financial information with strange callers and to hang up.

Citizens may call the Federal Communications Commission hotline at 1-888-225-5322, file an online complaint here, contact the Attorney General’s office by calling 617-727-8400 or filing an online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

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