Sheriff’s Dept: Beware of Local Phone Scam

The Sheriff’s Office has received multiple calls from citizens saying that someone from the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office contacted them requesting an electronic transfer of money to resolve a missed court date or address unpaid tickets. The caller provides the names of actual Sheriff’s Office employees, and the phone number appears legitimate.

These calls are fraudulent. Law enforcement will not solicit the transfer of money to resolve legal matters and modern technology makes it possible for people to alter their caller ID so do not rely on that as verification of the caller’s identity.

The Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this scam in conjunction with other law enforcement partners. Anyone that has experienced a financial loss as a result of this scam is encouraged to call 911 for assistance. Those that have not suffered a financial loss do not need to report.

Additional information on common scams can be found at: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety and https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams.