RIO GRANDE- Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Middle Township Police Chief Christopher Leusner would like to warn residents and business owners throughout Cape May County about a fraud scam involving “Green Dot Moneypak”
prepaid cards.
The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Middle Township police are investigating a bomb threat that was called into the K-Mart department store in the Rio Grande section of Middle Township. On Sept. 10 at approximately 5:15 p.m.,
an employee of K-Mart received a telephone call from a subject who demanded that funds be placed onto a “Green Dot” prepaid money card and if the employee didn’t comply, the caller would detonate a bomb that had been placed in the store.
The store was evacuated and K9 Units from the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department, Delaware River and Bay Authority and the New Jersey Department of Corrections responded and conducted a search of the store. There were no suspicious
devices found.
During the investigation it was learned that a fraud scam involving “Green Dot Moneypak” Cards has been circulating the country. Green Dot Moneypak cards are reloadable debit cards which can be purchased at numerous retail stores. Once a card is purchased, the customer “loads”, or places money onto the card at the retail store where it was purchased and then the card can be used similar to a debit or credit card.
Each card has a 14 digit security code on it. This number is similar to an account number and should not be shared with anyone. Once this number is provided to a scammer, they have access to obtaining your money.
There are various types of scams associated with these “prepaid” cards. The scam utilized at K-Mart involved the caller demanding that money be placed on the card and the 14 digit security code be provided to the caller. This would allow the caller to transfer the money to their account. Another variation of the scam involves the scammer calling the victim and telling them that they’ve won a sweepstakes or lottery, and that they need to pay taxes or fees in order to collect the winnings. The scammer instructs the victim to buy a Green Dot Moneypak and place money on the card and provide the security code to them. Upon doing so, the money is transferred from the card to another account.
Prosecutor Taylor would like residents and business owners to beware of scammers who use the Green Dot MoneyPak prepaid cards to scam and would like to provide the following advice regarding MoneyPak cards:
*Never give your 14 digit security code to someone you don’t know.
* Never pay a fee via MoneyPak to collect a prize or sweepstakes win.
* Refuse any offer that asks you to buy a MoneyPak and share the number or receipt information by email or phone.
Prosecutor Taylor would like to emphases that Green Dot MoneyPak cards are perfectly legal and provide a convenient way to pay bills and make purchases. Unfortunately, scammers have found ways to deceive consumers into providing the security code and transferring their money out of their account. . Any person or business that is contacted by someone that may be possibly carrying out this scam is urged to contact their local Police Agency immediately.
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Middle Township Police report that the bomb threat is cleared and the shopping center is reopened. Police say that the department will be issuing a press release on the incident.
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A bomb threat was reported at the Rio Grande Kmart on Route 9 on Sept. 10 at 5:00 p.m. Captain John Edwards of the Middle Township Police Department confirmed the report. The Middle Township Police Department responded and are still on scene. No further information at this time.
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