TOMS RIVER — The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about fraudulent phone calls from individuals posing as law enforcement officers.
Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy said the scammers claim victims have missed a court appearance and must call back a provided number to discuss supposed legal documents. Officials stressed that the calls are a scam.
“The Sheriff’s Office will never contact you by phone to demand payment, threaten arrest, or request personal or financial information,” Mastronardy said. “All official matters are handled through the courts, not unsolicited phone calls.”
Residents are urged to avoid answering calls from unfamiliar numbers and to never share sensitive information unless dialing a verified number directly. Both Apple and Android phones have built-in spam protection tools that can help block suspicious calls.
Anyone who receives one of these calls should not call the number back. Instead, residents are advised to verify through the Sheriff’s Office by using the publicly listed contact number.
Mastronardy encouraged the community to remain vigilant and spread the warning: “Together, we can stop these scams before they succeed.”
