Message from Councilman Roshan (Roc) White | December 19, 2025
We recently received an alert from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, asking us to inform residents about a recurring phone scam. Sadly, we are seeing scammers becoming increasingly aggressive in impersonating law enforcement officers.
They are using sophisticated tactics designed to exploit trust, fear, and confusion. What was once limited to obvious cold calls has evolved into a complex ecosystem of fraud that costs victims billions of dollars annually while inflicting significant emotional and psychological harm.
The latest scam we are seeing in our community: callers are now claiming the individual has an arrest warrant — often citing missed jury duty or a failure to appear in court — and demand immediate payment to avoid arrest.
The sheriff’s department is sharing stories of how scammers can spoof official phone numbers using the names of real Union County officers and send fake warrant documents containing the victim’s personal information.
These calls are entirely fraudulent and intended to steal money and sensitive information. And they are frightening.
There is only one thing you can do: Hang up the phone.
The Scotch Plains Police Department reiterates that law enforcement agencies will never demand payment over the phone, nor will they tell you to pay alleged fines through untraceable means, such as gift cards, prepaid cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers.
Police will also never threaten an immediate arrest for lack of payment or ask you over the phone for personal or financial information.
These are all red flags. Even the slightest oddity in a phone conversation with a stranger should prompt you to end the conversation immediately and then call the Scotch Plains Police Department to share the details of the call.
Unfortunately, robocalls continue to flood phone lines daily, with some estimates suggesting Americans receive billions of bogus calls each year in total. These operations often originate from overseas call centers that operate with near impunity, making enforcement and prosecution extremely difficult.
Some schemes even involve multiple accomplices who assume different roles to create an appearance of legitimacy.
The dangers extend far beyond financial loss, though the monetary impact can be devastating.
Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable, with some losing their entire life savings to romance scams, tech support frauds, or fake IRS demands. These losses can be irreversible, leaving victims financially ruined, embarrassed and emotionally shattered. The psychological trauma of being deceived can lead to depression, anxiety, and a profound sense of violation.
If you feel you may have been victimized, please contact the police department to file a report. For additional information on this latest scam, I urge you to reach out to the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 908-527-4450 or visit https://ucnj.org/sheriff/.
