Northern Minnesota Sheriff’s Office Addresses Surge Of Scams Across The Region

If you've been following the news in the Northland lately, it's, unfortunately, a pretty regular occurrence to hear about a local law enforcement agency warning the public about a new scam reported in the area.

One recent example is the Ashland County Sheriff's Office warning about scammers calling to ask for money, posing as a friend or family member in need after an accident or financial issue.

Another is a more involved twist reported by multiple people in St. Louis County on the Iron Range and in the Duluth area where someone will call posing as a relative who's in jail and needs money for bail. The scammer then would send someone to the victim's home to collect money.

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With scams like these becoming more prevalent and more difficult to spot, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office held a media event this week to offer vital tips to the public to help people spot scams being seen around Northern Minnesota and offer tips to avoid falling victim to them.

How are scammers trying to target Northlanders?

St. Louis County officials say scammers are using a lot of different touchpoints to reach potential victims. These methods include by email, phone call, text message, or through a variety of mobile apps.

How can you spot a potential scam?

In their briefing, the Sheriff's Office highlighted red flags to look for that could indicate a potential scam. They include things like:

• Someone claiming to have “insider” information
• Offering opportunities to make large amounts of money
• Fraudulent websites or phone apps
• Unsolicited assistance and advice
• Unable to meet in person
• Keeping you on the phone and not allowing you to call back
  • This prevents the scam victim from being able to verify the caller is who they
    claim to be
• Requests for money or personal information
• Fake emergency scenarios
  • Someone you know was in a car accident and you need to transfer money
  • Someone you know is in jail and you need to transfer money

One of the top rising scams to look out for

There's a growing number of scams involving cryptocurrency being reported across the Northland and beyond.

Some tips the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office is offering to avoid scams related to the electronic currency include avoiding responding to seemingly random messages from an unknown person. Social media and dating apps are common places for these types of interactions.

If you receive unsolicited communication about financial, investment, or cryptocurrency advice or opportunities, you should be cautious.

In addition, you should be careful with what information you share online. They highlight that even seemingly harmless information could be handy for a scammer.

The bottom line for protecting yourself

Besides being vigilant and looking for the above red flags, officials say you should never share personal financial information or money with someone you've never met. If you are conducting business electronically, being sure to verify that who you're working with is trusted is crucial.

Finally, if you are asked to transfer money, gift cards, or provide identifying or financial information by anyone reaching out to you, you should immediately cut off communication. Reporting instances like this to local law enforcement is also a good idea if you have an interaction with a potential scam.