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   Recently, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous reports of fraud and scam phone calls and text messages in which the scammer has posed as a member of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. While each of these cases has some variety, in one reported case, the victim reported they received a scam call from an individual posing as a member of the Sheriff’s Office Administrative team, demanding payment for an unpaid fine that would lead to an arrest warrant. The fraudster used a caller ID spoofing technique and used the name and badge number of a Sheriff’s Office administrative staff member, leading the victim and their coworkers to believe the scam, which involved transferring currency through a purchased “Green Dot card” to the fraudster. 

   Caller ID Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers often use neighbor spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or spoof a number from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust. If you answer, they use pre-scripted talking points to scam and try to steal your money or valuable personal information, which can be used in fraudulent activity.

   If you receive this type of call or scam, protect yourself by hanging up the phone immediately and never provide personal or financial information over the phone; instead, independently verify the information by calling the official Sheriff’s Office at a number you find from their official website. Legitimate law enforcement agencies will never demand immediate payment over the phone for fines, missed court dates or to clear warrants. 

   Common tactics used by scammers that have been reported recently include:

   • Caller ID Spoofing: The phone number may appear to be from the local Sheriff’s Office or a specific deputy’s name, but this is fake. 

   • Sense of Urgency: Scammers create panic by claiming there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest, and you must pay a fine immediately to avoid jail time. 

   • Demands for Payment: They will demand payment through specific, untraceable methods, such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. 

   • Threats: They may threaten to come to your home if you do not pay immediately. 

   What to do if you receive a call like this

   • Hang up immediately: Do not provide any information, and do not stay on the line to argue or question the caller. 

   • Do not call back the number from the call: Scammers may be spoofing the number, and you will not reach a legitimate agency. 

   • Call the official Sheriff’s Office directly: Look up the phone number for your local Sheriff’s Office on their official website or a trusted directory and call them to verify the claim. 

   • Do not share personal or financial information: This includes your Social Security number, bank account information, or payment details. 

   • Report the scam: You can report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and visit identitytheft.gov if you have already shared personal information. 

   We understand that this information can be confusing and at times hard to understand a legitimate call or a fraudster attempting to gain payment or personal information. If you have any doubt about the contact, please call us to help you confirm its validity. We are more than happy to help you avoid being victim to a scam situation. 

   If you have specific questions that you would like answered in this column or in person, please feel free to contact me anytime using one of the following methods:

   Email: [email protected]

   Phone: (218) 547-1424  1 (800) 450-2677

   By Mail/In Person:

Cass County Sheriff’s Office, 303 Minnesota Ave W, PO Box 1119,

Walker, MN 56484

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