The Toms River Police Department is requesting you share the following information with your loved ones.

There has been increased activity in a scam directed toward grandparents where the caller represents themselves as a grandchild who is incapacitated in some manner. Anyone claiming over the phone to be a relative asking for money, especially in an urgent manor, should be verified by a family member.

If you have any doubts on the validity of a situation, please call the police department at 732-349-0150 for assistance. Some examples of the claims to date are (not limited to):

– The grandchild has been in an accident and injured someone.

– The caller will pose as an attorney or bail bondsman and state the grandchild has been arrested and needs bail money.

– The grandchild has been arrested on a DWI or warrant and needs assistance.

Often the caller will try to keep the victim on the phone and walk them throught the process keeping a sense of urgency to the situation. The caller may give you instructions on what to say to a bank teller if he/she questions you on why you are taking out the cash, even instruct the victim to act upset with the teller for asking questions. They will make sure the victim withdraws the funds from their bank and uses one of the following means of collecting the money (not limited to):

– Wire transfer

– Gift Card payment

– Pick up personally

Please remember:

– Call the relative to ensure their safety. The caller will try to keep you on the phone to prevent this from happening.

– Bail money is ONLY collected at the police department.

– Pass this information on to your loved ones.

– Call your local police department if you feel you have been victim of a scam. Stay safe, stay vigilant.