Man Arrested In South Plainfield Grandparent Scam, Police Say

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — A Bronx man was arrested this week and charged with trying to scam a South Plainfield resident into thinking their grandchild had been arrested.

Albert Peralta-Munoz, 22, of the Bronx was arrested Jan. 27 and charged with second-degree use of a juvenile to commit a crime, third-degree theft by deception and third-degree conspiracy, said South Plainfield Police and the Middlesex County prosecutor.

South Plainfield police said that at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, a borough resident received a phone call from an individual who demanded $6,500 for the release of the resident’s grandchild from jail.

Peralta-Munoz and the juvenile working with him were later arrested as they attempted to collect the money from the victim.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Garret Cassio at (908) 226-7662 /
gcassio@sppolice.com or Detective Peter Hlavka (908) 226-7661 / phlavka@sppolice.com.

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