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'Arrested Relative' Phone Scam Beats Ridgewood Resident Out Of $1,500

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. -- A Ridgewood man sent $1,500 to phone scammers who convinced him it was bail money for an arrested relative, authorities said.

Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot File Photo

And, so, once again, police are warning people not to get suckered.

In the more recent case, a Highland Avenue resident got a call from someone who reported that a family member was jailed in Smithfield, RI, Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke said.

He was told to contact "Public Defender Bernie Wall," who had him wire the $1,500 to a Warwick, RI, Walmart.

That money's gone for good, police say.

If you have elderly relatives, talk to them about this, authorities urge.

But first review our sampling of the various types of scams:

PSE&G Warns: Watch Out For New Sophisticated Phone Scams

PSE&G phone scammers have gotten more sophisticated -- using interactive voice prompts that imitate those of the utility's customer service line, officials warned

https://hackensack.dailyvoice.com/news/pseg-warns-watch-out-for-new-sophisticated-phone-scams/681657/

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Stop Falling For IRS Scam, Wayne Police Urge All Citizens

More than five months after April 15, tax scams are continuing to do serious damage, Wayne police said — because many of the victims aren’t aware that the IRS will NEVER call anyone for money.

https://paramus.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/stop-falling-for-irs-scam-wayne-police-urge-all-citizens/683715/

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Phone scammers pretend to offer lower credit rates to steal your info, Ridgewood police warn

Along with the hostage scam and the IRS scam, police are now hearing from residents that con men callers are pretending to be from credit card companies offering better rates.

http://cliffviewpilot.com/phone-scammers-pretend-to-offer-lower-credit-rates-to-steal-your-info-ridgewood-police-warn/

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IRS phone scammers take more than $10G from Emerson man before police can stop him

An Emerson man conned into thinking he’d be arrested by the IRS sent more than $10,000 to phone scammers  before police called by his worried family found him in Ridgewood.

http://cliffviewpilot.com/irs-phone-scammers-take-more-than-10g-from-emerson-man-before-police-can-stop-him/

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Don’t be a victim: Bergen sheriff warns of federal warrant phone scam

The latest phone scam targeting unsuspecting victims involves callers claiming to have warrants for their arrests, Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino warned.

http://cliffviewpilot.com/dont-be-a-victim-bergen-sheriff-warns-of-federal-warrant-phone-scam/

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‘Hostage’ phone scam nearly costs Wyckoff man $900

The “hostage scam” nearly claimed a victim in Wyckoff who stopped a $900 transfer just in time to a thief who convinced him that his brother had been kidnapped.

http://cliffviewpilot.com/hostage-phone-scam-nearly-costs-wyckoff-man-900/

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Leonia police chief warns about phone scammers claiming connections to fire department

Leonia police are warning citizens to be wary of scammers claiming a connection to the borough fire department while claiming to offer chimney cleaning services and smoke detectors.

http://cliffviewpilot.com/leonia-police-chief-warns-about-phone-scammers-claiming-connections-to-fire-department/

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Leonia residents not fooled by CVS phone scam

Leonia police are investigating a phone scam in which someone calls CVS customers claiming to be a technician and promising to make it easier to get medications — in return for personal information.

http://cliffviewpilot.com/leonia-residents-not-fooled-by-cvs-phone-scam/

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Saudino: Inmate jury duty phone scammers had $300,000 bank accounts

A nationwide jury duty phone scam run by a Georgia corrections officer and prison inmate brought some thieves as much as $300,000 each — and possibly was assisted by higher ups in the system, Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino said.

http://cliffviewpilot.com/saudino-inmate-jury-duty-phone-scammers-had-300000-bank-accounts/

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Ridgewood man, 75, loses $1,600 in lottery phone scam

A 75-year-old Ridgewood man was conned out of nearly $1,600 by a phone scammer who wanted $400 more, which convinced him to go to the police. The Bartell Place resident was told that he’d just won a $950,000 sweepstakes and that he needed to wire $1,585 through Western Union to cover processing costs associated with the prize.

http://cliffviewpilot.com/ridgewood-man-75-loses-1600-in-lottery-phone-scam/

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