Residents in several New Jersey municipalities have reported fraudulent phone calls from individuals impersonating police officers. The perpetrators are using caller ID spoofing to display the local police department’s number and are reported to have thick accents. These scammers are also using names of actual officers obtained from municipal websites.
It is advised never to disclose personal information over the phone, fax, mail, or online unless you have initiated contact or are certain about the recipient’s identity. Suppose an unexpected call is received from someone claiming to be a Linden Police Officer. In that case, the recommendation is to ask for the caller’s name, end the call, and verify its legitimacy by contacting the Linden Police Department directly at (908) 474-8500.
Victims of this scam who have shared personal information or fallen prey to identity theft are urged to report the incident to the Linden Police Department.
The Linden Police Department, affiliated police unions, or related organizations will never solicit personal information over the phone. It remains crucial to remain vigilant and cautious when dealing with unknown callers or entities claiming to be law enforcement.