GLOUCESTER CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) – Authorities in Camden County, New Jersey, have arrested two individuals accused of impersonating county officials in an attempt to gain access to residents’ homes in Gloucester City.
On May 13, police reported that Nicholas Maniscalco, 20, of Runnemede, NJ, and Antonio Martinez, 23, of Glassboro, NJ, went door-to-door on Chestnut Avenue, claiming to be employees of the County Clerk’s Office conducting damage inspections.
One of the targeted residents, Sandra Marti, recounted her encounter: “They wanted to know if they could inspect my house for damage. I said, ‘First of all, we don’t have any damage in our home.’ And I said, ‘Can I see I.D.?’ The one guy showed me his driver’s license, but real quick away from the Ring camera.”
Realizing something was amiss, Marti promptly called the police.
Both men were subsequently charged with impersonating a public servant, a disorderly persons offense. Dan Keashen, Public Affairs Director of Camden County, emphasized that this is the latest scam targeting the area, marking the first instance specifically aimed at the clerk’s department. “We don’t have home inspectors. The county clerk’s office does not have an individual that will come out to your home. For all our owners, they need to be aware of scams like this,” Keashen warned.
The attempted scam has left some residents feeling uneasy. Diane Handy, a neighbor, expressed concern: “That’s why it was scary, especially with all the police officers living here, you know?”
Authorities remind residents to always verify the identity of individuals attempting to enter their homes. Maniscalco and Martinez are scheduled to appear in court on May 28.