Sheriff’s Deputy Recovers Thousands for Scam Victim

(KNSI) — A Stearns County resident was saved from losing thousands of dollars in a scam, thanks to the sheriff’s office and quick-thinking USPS employees.

According to the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, on October 23rd, Deputy Dennis Kern took a call about a possible scam. The caller told Kern they had fallen prey to a scam, which said a child had been involved in a crash, was arrested, and needed bail money. The person didn’t say how much they had already paid.

The caller retained the tracking number for the package they sent, and police looked it up. The package had not yet been delivered, so Kern went to the post office in Waite Park to intercept the package. With help from postal employees, they called the destination post office, who contacted the delivery person still in possession of the package.

Kern called the person back and gave them the good news that they would get their money back. Only then they told investigators there was $18,000 that had been wrapped in pages of a magazine and then shipped.

Police say this is a typical request for a scam, but usually, the victims can’t get their money back because the package has already been delivered or the money has been wired via an untraceable electronic method.

Police say if someone is in custody and needs bail, the way the scammer went about it is not how bail money is obtained or requested. Whether the request is coming from the person themselves, a “facility representative,” or a local lawyer, the type of request made of the victim is a scam and a fraud every time. They say if you get a call like that, hang up and contact the police.

Security experts say to be suspicious of unsolicited text messages and phone calls, social media messages, and emails asking for money. They say spoofing software can make the number look like it’s coming from somewhere reputable or from a friend or family member. It’s best to hang up and contact that person directly to see if what the caller said is true. They also say don’t click any links or attachments in any unsolicited text messages or emails and never give your personal or financial information over the computer or phone to anyone you don’t contact yourself.

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KNSI News reporter Jake Judd contributed to this story.

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