# How a TikTok influencer exposed a fake arrest warrant scam

> A New Jersey mother received a call from someone impersonating a real lieutenant, complete with her personal details and a fake warrant signed by a dead judge.
- Title: How a TikTok influencer exposed a fake arrest warrant scam
- Summary: A New Jersey mother received a call from someone impersonating a real lieutenant, complete with her personal details and a fake warrant signed by a dead…
- Keywords: new jersey, bergen county, arrest warrant scam, phone scam, lindsay angio, lieutenant damian pope, social media influencer, identity theft, law enforcement impersonation, sheriff anthony cureton, georgia prison, fraud
- Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/post/nj-phone-scam-social-media-influencer-helps-expose-scammer-claiming-bergen-county-sheriffs-office/19841793
- Published: 2026-09-17T03:17:24+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: new jersey, bergen county, arrest warrant scam, phone scam, lindsay angio, lieutenant damian pope, social media influencer, identity theft, law enforcement impersonation, sheriff anthony cureton, georgia prison, fraud
## Influencer gets call from fake lieutenant
Lindsay Angio received a call from someone claiming to be Lieutenant Damian Pope of the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, saying she had an outstanding warrant.
## Scammer knew personal details
The caller had Angio's name, address, social security number, and even knew which car she drove, making the call seem legitimate and credible.

> He confirmed my name, my address, my social security number. Like I didn't say it, he said it.
## Real lieutenant's name checked out
Angio looked up the name and confirmed Lieutenant Damian Pope was a real officer at the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, adding to the scam's credibility.

> And I looked him up and he's a real lieutenant, that name at that office.
## Multiple callers made it sound real
Several people participated in the call, creating a realistic operation that included sending a fake arrest warrant signed by a deceased judge.

> There were multiple people involved in this phone. It wasn't just one, that's why it sounded so realistic.
## Scam unravels at credit union
When the caller instructed Angio to withdraw cash from a federal credit union instead of going to the sheriff's office, she became suspicious and went to the real location instead.

> I don't take cash; you have to get it checked basically like through a federal credit union.
## Real lieutenant confronts the scammer
At the sheriff's office, Lieutenant Pope recorded a call with the scammer, who continued demanding Angio turn herself in and threatening handcuffs.

> She needs to come turn herself in or she's going to go through the bonding process.
## Sheriff warns about the scheme
Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton confirmed that legitimate law enforcement never requests money over the phone to resolve warrants or avoid arrest.

> We don't ask you for money. We don't ask to meet at a designated place to transfer the money.
## Scam has stolen half a million dollars
The same suspects have likely run this scam for four to five years, obtaining roughly half a million dollars. Authorities believe the operation involves a Georgia prison inmate using a burner phone and outside accomplices.
## Key takeaway

Scammers can sound credible by using real names, stolen personal information, and multiple callers, but legitimate law enforcement never demands cash over the phone to resolve warrants.