All scams are terrible and there are plenty of them to go around these days. However, this one might be one of the worst thanks to the nature of the scam.

Why So Many Scams?

There have been so many scams in Minnesota and Wisconsin lately that the Duluth Police Department recently shared some basic scam tips to help us all avoid becoming a victim.

Hopefully one day we can all put an end to these scams once and for all but that isn't going to happen anytime soon, so it's best to read up on scams when they pop up so you don't fall for them.

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Missing Persons Scam In Minnesota

Like I said, the nature of this one is especially awful. The Bemidji Police Department shared details of a scam that has been reported in the area, and is happening in 'multiple cities' across the area.

RELATED: Scam Reported In Grand Marais, Minnesota

How does this scam work? A post is made with a child's face, stating that the local police department found the child but doesn't know anything about them.

What Happens Next?

The post asks people to share the photo of the child. The post also says that the child knows their mother's name and that you can help locate her by sharing the post. The post also uses a fake deputy name.

RELATED: New Jury Duty Scam Reported In Duluth

These little details, paired with the fact that everyone wants to help a child as quick as possible, make this seem real. Of course, it's a scam.

If you see a post like this, think twice before sharing it and report it to your local law enforcement. Following this scam, the Bemidji Police Department shared some tips and things to look out for so you can better spot one when they pop up!

HAVE YOU SEEN ME? 29 Kids Missing From Minnesota

As of April 23, 2024, 29 children are missing from across Minnesota that have still not been found, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. If you have seen any of them, or have any information on their whereabouts, please don’t hesitate to call 911 or you can call the National Center at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST).

Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now

LOOK: The biggest scams today and how you can protect yourself from them

Using data from the BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report, Stacker identified the most common and costly types of scams in 2022.