Hackensack, N.J. – A local mother and social‑media influencer, Lindsay Angio, recently uncovered a multi‑person phone scam that falsely claimed to be officers from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. In a TikTok video that quickly went viral, Angio described how the callers used personal data – her name, address, Social Security number and even the make of her car – to appear legitimate.
Scam details revealed
According to Angio, the caller identified himself as Lieutenant Damian Pope, a real lieutenant with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. She later verified the name online and confirmed his authenticity. The scammers then sent her a forged arrest warrant allegedly signed by a deceased judge, demanding she pay cash for a bond to avoid arrest.
Angio, who was scheduled to testify as a victim in a related case, was instructed to stay on the line while the scammers directed her to a “federal credit union” to transfer money. When the instructions changed, she chose to go directly to the sheriff’s office instead.
Law‑enforcement response
Upon arrival, real Lieutenant Pope arrived within seconds, recorded the call, and confronted the impostor. “I’m her husband. What exactly do you need from us?” Pope asked, exposing the fraud. The fake caller continued to demand that Angio surrender and pay a bond.
Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton emphasized that legitimate officers never request money to avoid arrest or to resolve warrants. “We don’t ask you for money. We don’t ask to meet at a designated place to transfer the money,” Cureton said.
Scope of the operation
Sheriff Cureton indicated that the same group of suspects has likely been running the scheme for four to five years, extracting roughly half a million dollars from victims. Authorities suspect that one of the callers may be an inmate serving a lengthy sentence in Georgia who is using a burner phone, with accomplices outside the prison still at large.
Officials warned that victims who send money in such scams are unlikely to recover their losses and urged residents to verify any law‑enforcement request by contacting the agency directly.
How to protect yourself
Residents are encouraged to remain skeptical of unsolicited calls that demand cash, especially when the caller claims to have a warrant. Verify the identity of any law‑enforcement officer by calling the official department number, and never hand over money without confirming the request through official channels.
Angio’s public warning serves as a reminder that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using personal data to gain trust. By sharing her experience, she hopes to protect other families in Bergen County and beyond from falling victim to similar fraud.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
