Full Notification

Thanks to Absecon PD for the original message on their Facebook page.

You're sitting down at the dinner table about to enjoy a nice home cooked meal when the phone rings. You don't recognize the number on the caller ID and it's from out-of-state. This time it's not somone trying to make you reinstate the warranty on your 1996 Honda Accord. The person on the other line threatens your freedom!

The Brigantine Police Department has been receiving numerous calls about another recent phone scam, different from the one described in a previous post. Multiple residents in Brigantine and surrounding towns have reported receiving a phone call from a "representative" from the "Magistrate Court", who claimed that the person needed to make a payment on outstanding fines or they would be arrested immediately.

Residents should know that this is not the standard operating procedure for Law Enforcement Agencies collecting overdue fines. The people behind these fraudulent calls usually request you to go to your local CVS and purchase money cards, then provide them with the numbers on the back. Courts in New Jersey will not accept payment for fines in this manner, nor will they accept monopoly money, IOU's or expired gift cards, even if they are to the long missed TW Sports.

Two residents in Brigantine reported receiving calls from the same number. That number is (303) 479-3273. A quick Google search will provide you with numerous message boards where people all over the nation received calls from this number, with similar threats and demands. If you get a call from this number, just ignore it.

Remember, never provide any information to people over the phone, especially bank account information, credit card numbers or social security numbers.

Please pass this information to loved ones, who may be of senior age, as they are the most frequently targeted.