The Hoboken Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify three suspects connected to a Zelle scam that took place at Pier C Park.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The a Cash App scam occurred at Pier C Park on April 30th at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Hoboken PD said in a statement.
The individuals approached a victim stating that they were seeking donations for their basketball team. When the victim attempted to donate via Zelle, one of the individuals took her phone and fraudulently transferred $3,500 to the recipient.
Anyone with information about this incident, or the individuals involved, is urged to contact Officer Chelsea Tamborra of the Detective Bureau at TamborraC@hobokenpdnj.gov or 201-420-2100 ext. 3109.
All information will be kept confidential.
The Hoboken PD encourages residents to remain vigilant and exercise caution as suspects in these scams typically engage victims in friendly conversations and claim they are fundraising for sports teams, school programs, or nonprofit organizations.
They often request donations via apps such as Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle.
Once the victim agrees, the perpetrator uses the victim’s phone, either through deception by asking the victim to use their phone or claiming the transaction didn’t go through, or by
using force. Then, the perpetrator transfers large sums of money without consent.
This regional scam has been reported in several locations in Hoboken including Hoboken Terminal, Washington Street, and both Pier A and Pier C parks.
Furthermore, the Hoboken PD advises residents to never hand your phone to a stranger, enable app security features, such as requiring a PIN or fingerprint to authorize transactions, and to be cautious of unsolicited donation requests in public places.
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of this scam are urged to report it to the Hoboken PD immediately by calling 201-420-2100.
