Barnegat, NJ – The Barnegat Township Police Department is alerting the community about a deceptive practice involving caller ID spoofing, where fraudsters mimic the department’s phone number to solicit personal information from residents. The scammers are reportedly using a spoofing application to make it appear as if calls are coming from the police department’s main line, (609)-698-5000, in an effort to obtain sensitive details such as full names, birth dates, social security numbers, and banking information.
The police department emphasizes that while officers may occasionally request personal identifiers over the phone, they will never use the (609)-698-5000 number for outgoing calls, as this line is designated solely for incoming calls.
Residents receiving calls from this number are advised that the caller is not a legitimate police officer and are strongly cautioned against sharing any personal information.
In case of doubt or to verify the authenticity of a call, individuals are encouraged to ask for the officer’s name, terminate the call, and then directly contact the police dispatch. The communications officers will facilitate a connection to confirm that the resident is indeed speaking with a genuine officer.
The Barnegat Township Police Department urges everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, ensuring the safety and security of all community members.