New Scam Targeting Howell Residents, Police Warn

HOWELL, NJ — If you get a phone call claiming there's a warrant out for your arrest or for that of a loved one and demanding an immediate payment, hang up the phone.

It's a scam, Howell Township police say.

Howell police said they have been receiving an increasing number of reports from residents who have fallen victim to this scam, called the bail scam.

"This scam is very popular across New Jersey right now and many victims have been affected," police said.

In the scam, someone impersonating a sheriff's officer or law enforcement officer contacts the victim, and claims the victim or someone in their family has an arrest warrant out.

The scammer says the victim must pay the "bail" and demands the victim deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM and send cryptocurrency to a wallet address given by the scammer.

"Law Enforcement will never ask you to send cryptocurrency through an ATM for bail money," Howell police said.

"Once you send the money it is unlikely that it will ever be recovered due to the sophisticated methods used by the scammers," police said.

"If you are contacted by someone who is requesting bail payment through a cryptocurrency ATM please cease contact and call the Howell Police Department. We will assist in you with determining whether this is an actual Law Enforcement Agency contacting you," the police department said.

Howell Township police can be reached at 732-938-4111.