Seniors targeted in ocean county public ocean ride scam

Seniors targeted in Ocean County public Ocean Ride scam

Posted by
1 min read
January 28, 2023

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Scammers are working the phones again in Ocean County, this time targeting the large senior citizen population.

On Friday, Ocean County officials are warning about fake bill collectors claiming to represent the Ocean Ride public transportation system. Ocean Ride is a low-cost public transportation network operated by Ocean County to assist senior citizens with getting around to important places countywide.

“We want our residents, especially our seniors, to be aware of scam calls that are claiming to be Ocean Ride employees looking for account information,” said Ocean County Commissioner Gary Quinn, who serves as liaison to the program. “It is important for everyone to remember to never give out personal information at the request of the caller.”

Residents are reminded that Ocean Ride staff will never initiate a call regarding payment of an overdue account. Information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers and social security numbers should never be given over the phone.

“Unfortunately scammers have developed sophisticated systems that look as if a call is coming from Ocean County when it is not,” said the Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari. “If the call does not sound legitimate, trust your instincts and reach out to Ocean Ride directly to verify.”

Those who have any questions about their billing should contact Ocean Ride by calling 732-736-8989, ext. 1. For more information on Ocean Ride, visit www.co.ocean.nj.us/oc/transportation.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version