New AI Scam in South Jersey Sounds Like Your Loved Ones

The Atlantic County Sheriff's Office is warning South Jersey residents about a frightening new scam that makes it sound like your family members are in trouble with the law.

And thanks to AI, this scam is not only really easy to pull off, but it sounds and feels very real.

Atlantic County Sheriff Joe O'Donoghue says in the last 48 hours, his office has received several complaints regarding unsolicited calls where the callers claim to be representatives of his office and the Atlantic County Court system.

How This AI Scam Works

Utilizing artificial intelligence, scammers are creating audio files from social media content that mimic the voice of a family member, claiming they are in trouble due to an accident or warrant with a $150,000 bond, and demand a payment of $15,000, or 10% of the bond.

These calls are designed to sound legitimate, including the use of real names and fake case numbers, such as calls from someone claiming to be Tyler Scottsdale with the phone number (686) 208-7493. The numbers used are often registered in states like Virginia or Mississippi.

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What the Sheriff's Office Wants You to Know

O'Donoghue said in a social media post, "We want to emphasize that the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office and the Court system do not solicit money over the phone for bail or fines, and we do not send agents to collect money."

If you receive such a call, please document the details without proceeding with any payment, and reach out to Officer TJ Snyder at (609) 909-7200 or via email at Suarez_mario@aclink.org.

Don't get fooled: Here's 25 scam texts I received in just one month

Yes, some of these may be humorous, but some do appear legit and often can fool you.

Spam texts are listed in the same order that they were received.

Gallery Credit: Mike Brant

Common scams targeting New Jersey residents

New Jersey officials are advising residents to watch out for these common scams.

Gallery Credit: Dino Flammia

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com

Filed Under: Atlantic County NJ News