Local Law Enforcement Warns of Scam Phone Calls
Local Law Enforcement Warns of Scam Phone Calls
Officials with the Milbank Police Department and the Grant County sheriff’s office warn area residents of recent telephone scams.
The scammers impersonate local law enforcement officers to instill fear and steal money.
“There are several scam calls going around the county right now,” said Jeremy Steffensen, Grant County sheriff. “The first one is supposedly from the United States Customs and Border Patrol and they claim they have a warrant for you. The second scam claims you missed grand jury duty in Grant County and that there is a warrant out for your arrest. We do not call you if you have a warrant, so just hang up!”
The scam caller tells the individual that the warrant can be remedied by purchasing pre-paid cards with a specified amount and providing that information to the scammer.
“When an individual has a warrant issued for their arrest, law enforcement does not call the individual and advise them of the arrest warrant,” said Jake Folk, Milbank police officer. “We would make contact with the individual in-person and take them into custody, pending the arrest warrant is valid.”
The scammers have a new twist on what is becoming a very common problem. “To make matters worse, we were also informed that the scammers are using the actual names of local law enforcement officials from our agency, as well as the Grant County sheriff’s office when identifying themselves,” said Folk.
Folk offers several helpful tips to avoid being scammed.
People should never give out personal information, banking information, or any other identifiable information.
If an individual questions who the caller is, whether they claim to be a law enforcement officer or someone from a different business or agency, hang up the phone and call that agency or business directly. They will be able to confirm if someone from that agency or business tried calling an individual and can connect you with that person.
Folk also advises people to regularly check their bank statements and other financial records to ensure accuracy and any fraudulent activity that may be occurring. If fraudulent activity is noticed, contact the financial institution immediately.
“Please be aware of any friends or family members who may be more susceptible to scams,” said Folk. “This specific scam is intended to cause great fear and place pressure on the victim to take immediate action.”
To report scammers or suspicious activity, contact the police at 605-432-5650, or the sheriff's office at 605-432-5853.
