Somerset County Officials Warn of Increasing Tax and Jury Duty Scams

SOMERVILLE, NJ - Somerset County officials are alerting residents to a significant rise in mail and telephone scams targeting the community, particularly the "Distraint Warrant" tax scam and jury duty scams.

Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Somerset County Sheriff Darrin Russo emphasize the urgency of protecting personal information against these fraudulent activities.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

Distraint Warrant Tax Scam

The Distraint Warrant tax scam involves residents receiving a letter from a fraudulent “Tax Processing Unit” claiming unpaid taxes. The notice urges recipients to call a provided number to settle the debt, threatening interest accrual or levying procedures.

Key red flags include:

• Somerset County does not have a “Tax Processing Unit,” “Tax Assessment Security Unit,” or “Tax Group Seizure Unit.”
• Legitimate correspondence from the New Jersey Division of Taxation or the Somerset County Tax Board will include complete contact information and a return address.
• The term “distraint” is not used by the New Jersey Division of Taxation, and legitimate notices provide the NJ Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
• Somerset County does not accept payments via electronic apps such as CashApp, Zelle, or gift cards.
• Never provide personal information such as social security or bank account numbers without verifying the legitimacy of the notice.

Residents who receive suspicious tax communication are advised to contact the Somerset County Tax Board at 908-541-7501 for verification.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

Jury Duty Scams

Jury duty scams involve calls from individuals posing as Jury Duty Managers, falsely claiming that recipients missed jury duty and are subject to fines or arrest.

Important points to remember:

• The New Jersey Judiciary does not contact individuals by phone, email, or through home visits.
• The Judiciary does not request personal information or payment for jury duty fines over the phone or via email.

Residents who receive suspicious communications regarding jury duty should disconnect and verify by contacting the Somerset County Jury Manager at Somjurymbx@njcourts.gov or 908-332-7700 ext. 13025.

Prosecutor McDonald urges residents to remain vigilant and look for red flag indicators to avoid falling victim to these scams. If you believe you have been targeted by a Distraint Warrant tax scam or a jury duty scam, contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance.

For more information, visit the New Jersey Division of Taxation's website at www.nj.gov and the New Jersey Courts website at www.njcourts.gov .

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net