A Woodcliff Lake senior citizen lost $27,000 in a phone scam in which the caller falsely claimed she would be arrested for missing jury duty, according to Bergen County authorities, who have since made an arrest.
Investigators say the victim received a call on April 25, 2024, from a number that appeared to belong to Bergen County. The caller claimed to be a sheriff’s supervisor and told her an arrest warrant had been issued for failing to appear for jury duty.
The woman was told she could avoid arrest by paying $27,000 in fines and fees. Believing the threat to be legitimate, she handed over the money.
Authorities allege that $9,500 of the stolen funds was later redeemed through a bitcoin account owned by Timothy Jackson Wood, 49, of Valley, Alabama.
According to law enforcement sources, Wood surrendered on Jan. 22 after learning that a fugitive warrant had been issued for his arrest in Bergen County. He was initially held in the Chambers County Jail before being extradited to New Jersey and lodged in the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack on Feb. 6.
Wood has been charged with theft by extortion, conspiracy, identity theft, impersonating a law enforcement officer and money laundering. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in partnership with the sheriff’s office and other agencies.
He remained in custody until Feb. 10, when a Superior Court judge released him under conditions in accordance with New Jersey’s bail reform law.
Authorities said there is no confirmed link between this case and a similar scam the previous year in which nine victims collectively lost nearly $200,000 to callers making similar arrest threats.
Officials warn that jury duty scams have become increasingly common due to technology that allows callers to “spoof” legitimate government phone numbers. Law enforcement agencies emphasize they do not demand payment over the phone. Legitimate court matters are handled through official mailed notices on government letterhead.
Anyone who receives a similar call is advised to gather as much information as possible and report it to local police or the county prosecutor’s office.
