Finderne Woman Falls Victim to Phony Warrant Call

A 48-year-old Finderne Avenue resident was scammed by a telephone call that led her to purchased a $365 prepaid debit card to clear an alleged warrant issued for her arrest, according to police.

The police report said the victim was contacted Sept. 30 by a caller claiming to be with Hunterdon County law enforcement. THe caller said a warrant had been issued for her arrest after she missed a court date for a moving violation captured on a red light camera in Flemington Borough.

The victim was directed to purchase the debit card at WalMart and call back with the card's serial number on the back of the card in order to have the warrant withdrawn. She was told she would receive notification of a new court date in the mail, Bridgewater police said. 

But the warrant was fictitious—according to the website Photoenforced.com, there are no such cameras in Hunterdon County, and just one—at Route 202 and First Avenue in Bridgewater—in Somerset County. No such warrant had been issued, but the card's serial number enabled the callers to transfer the funds.