By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The Rice County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to beware of scams involving callers posing as sheriff’s deputies. The Sheriff’s Office has received multiple calls from residents who say someone claiming to be a Rice County deputy told the person they missed jury duty and had a bench warrant, and tried to keep them on the phone. Previous callers claimed they were Capt. Paul LaRoche with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office. This was a scam and not a legitimate member of the Sheriff’s Office calling.
None of those who reported the scam stayed on the line long enough to determine what the caller may really have been after, though they reported feeling intimidated. This scam has been around for a while and typically involves a caller saying the victim can avoid arrest by paying a fine, often in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency or digital cash transfers.
The Sheriff’s Office will never call, email or text to solicit funds or collect fines. Valid warrants are not served by fax or e-mail. They are served in person by a U.S. marshal or other law enforcement officer. Juror summonses are sent through the mail and communication through any other method should be considered suspicious.
Officials from across the State of Minnesota have noted that there has been a growing issue of gift card scams. Minnesota Department of Commerce Assistant Commissioner Jackie Olson says official agencies will never ask for gift cards as payment.
[G:\scripts\audio\smgiftgardscams2.mp3] :16 “that information”
“If it’s one of the prepaid gift cards, you know, just understand that most places don’t take them. If they are like a, you know, obviously, if a law enforcement agency or, you know, any sort of governmental agency, does not take them. So if that is something they are saying they shouldn’t do anything, they shouldn’t send that information.” – Minnesota Department of Commerce Assistant Commissioner Jackie Olson, Audio Courtesy of the Minnesota News Network
Legitimate government agencies will also not call individuals and demand immediate payment in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin) or digital cash transfers. Any unsolicited contact that puts you in fear, requests you to act quickly or states there is an emergency requiring you to provide funds or personal identifiable information is likely a scam.
The Rice County Sheriff’s Office recommends never giving personal information to unknown callers, and that anyone receiving a call from someone saying they’re a deputy sheriff can call the Sheriff’s Office at 507-334-4391 to verify that claim.
