This section is based on data provided to the Northern Valley Press by neighborhood police departments. Due to pending court appearances and other variations, the following information shall be read in “press time” context.
TENAFLY, N.J.—On Tuesday, March 19, at about 11:30 a.m., officers were alerted to a possible scam being perpetrated against an elderly Tenafly resident.
The resident was contacted by phone by someone claiming to be a representative from “Apple technical support,” alleging that the victim’s computer had been hacked by multiple persons and her personal banking information had been compromised.
The scammer ultimately convinced the victim to purchase multiple GooglePlay gift cards in $500 allotments to cover the ensuing “investigation.”
The scammer would call the victim back each night asking for the gift card numbers, then advising the victim that additional gift cards were needed to complete the “investigation.”
Over the course of the previous five days, the victim purchased 45 gift cards at various local businesses totaling $22,500. A concerned store clerk alerted Tenafly police to the possibility of the scam after they noticed the elderly customer attempting to purchase a large amount of these gift cards, and eventually declined her purchase after the victim could not articulate why they needed the gift cards. Detectives made contact with the elderly resident later that day and confirmed that they were being victimized by an unscrupulous scammer.
“Unfortunately, these types of scams are becoming more and more common, targeting our more vulnerable populations. The Tenafly Police Department urges everyone to be wary of unsolicited phone calls from anyone claiming to be able to resolve outstanding legal, financial, or technical trouble for a fee,” the department told Northern Valley Press.
“Most commonly, scammers will try to convince you to pay them to settle a debt, satisfy a warrant, or ensure the safety of a loved one who is in trouble. These scammers are usually based out of the country and impossible to track down,” Tenafly police warned. “And once the money is transferred to them, it is extremely difficult if not impossible to recover.”
Tenafly police say you should be especially skeptical of anyone pressuring you to purchase gift cards or wire money to a third party, or threatening you with arrest if you fail to comply.
“If you have any doubt about the authenticity of the caller, hang up and contact the institution they represent by looking up a valid customer service phone number from their official website or from an invoice or contract you have received in the mai,” the police warn. “The best defense against becoming a victim is to be aware that these scams are perpetrated every single day.”
Here are some tips:
• “Educate yourself about the typical scamming techniques and sign up for credit alerts that notify you if your bank account or credit cards are being used.
• “Never disclose any personal information, including your date of birth, social security number, and credit card or bank account numbers to anyone calling you unsolicited.
• “Even if you consider yourself savvy enough to avoid being duped by these scammers, please talk to your friends, neighbors, and family members who may not be as wary.”
“In this particular case, we were lucky an attentive store clerk knew something ‘wasn’t right’ and contacted us to help. Without their action, this victim would have likely been scammed out of thousands of more dollars,” Tenafly police said.
“Help us spread the word and speak with those you love about how to avoid being a victim. If you think you may be a victim yourself, or if you know someone who was scammed, please call your local police department. The members of the Tenafly Police Department can help you determine the validity of any suspicious phone calls before you get scammed. Call our non-emergency number at (201) 568-5100, give our desk officer the details and we can help you determine if the call is legitimate or not.”