**TWO MORE HOSTAGE SCAM CALLS**

In the past two days we have dealt with residents who have received the “Hostage Scam” call. After conferring with the FBI we have learned that the calls appear to be originating out of the country and using a program that shows on your caller ID as a local number in NJ. The people perpetrating the scam have done their homework and are very convincing. We are not 100% sure where or how they have gotten all the information they have but we do caution what you post on social media sites.

The last two calls involved a loved one being held hostage and the caller being instructed to go to the bank and withdrawal money and go to a CVS where they will be given more instructions. Always call your family member who is believed to be held hostage and make sure they are OK. If for some reason this were an actual situation you will need to contact the police immediately. In both cases we have dealt with they were indeed scams and all family members were fine. The phone number used in this recent scam is the same as the post below…

From another Facebook post on News 12…”just got scammed….. I received a call from this number 862-307-6515 telling me that my brother got into an accident, i asked the name of my brother but they wouldn’t tell me, i told them the name of my brother and mine by mistake, after i had said my brothers name and mine they confirmed that it was him in fact, they told me that my brother wanted to call the police to file a complaint but he didn’t because he had criminal records, so he took a gun out and started punching my brother and took him to his grandmothers house until i sent money to them, they told me not to hang up the phone and not to call the police and not to contact any family members. needless to say, i went to cvs and sent a money gram to Puerto Rico for $650.00 because i was worried about my brother…please make the public aware of this scam. it’s very scary”.

Be Safe!!