Law Enforcement Warning of New Phone Scam

Originally published 7:14 a.m. April 4th, 2023

Updated 9:26 a.m. April 4th, 2023

(KNSI) — Local police have a warning about new scams floating around and the scammers are pretending to be with local law enforcement agencies.

Authorities with the Waite Park Police Department say someone contacted them, explaining they received a call appearing to be from the police department. The scammer said they were with Homeland Security and had intercepted a package of hydrochloric acid. The scammer told them they were in trouble and had to pay a fine in Bitcoin.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center has also received multiple reports of a phone scam targeting residents.

Someone is identifying themself as a Stearns County Sheriff’s Sergeant, and the calls included requesting medical information and legal documents or using intimidation about past due unpaid fines. The calls are fraudulent and aim to gain access to personal information or money. The department says those who were targeted called the sheriff’s office directly, where authorities confirmed the calls were a scam.

If you receive a call like the one described and are unsure if the conversation is authentic, please get in touch with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office at 320-251-4240.

Police say don’t give out any personal information, credit card or banking information or pay money to anyone in any form of currency, whether cash, gift cards or cryptocurrency, to someone over the phone.

The Federal Trade Commission also collects scam complaints. If you think you have gotten a scam call, contact them at 1-877-382-4357.

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