Third Rochester-Area Resident Falls Victim to Costly Law Enforcement Scam
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Another resident of the Rochester area has fallen victim to a costly law enforcement impersonator scam.
Read More: Law Enforcement Scam Victimizes Another Rochester-Area Resident
She’s the third person to report being scammed since April 20. A 38-year-old Rochester woman told police she lost $3,000 to the scheme on April 20.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office took a report from a woman on April 25 who reported being swindled out of $2,000 by the same scam.
The scam involves the victim being told by an individual spoofing an actual member of local law enforcement that they must send bitcoin to settle a legal matter. The scammer tells the victim that an arrest warrant will be issued if they do not comply.
Rochester Woman Becomes 3rd Victim to Lose Thousands to Law Enforcement Scam
Rochester Police Department Communications Coordinator Amanda Grayson says a 30-year-old Rochester woman reported receiving the threatening call on April 27.
The scammer, who spoofed a non-emergency law enforcement phone number, claimed they were a captain with the sheriff’s office and told the victim she had missed a court date and was being held in contempt of court, Grayson said.
She was instructed to send a $10,000 bitcoin payment to settle the issue. Grayson said the victim sent $3,000 in bitcoin before realizing she was being scammed.
So far a combined total $8,000 in losses have been reported by the three local scam victims.
Grayson is once again reminding the community that law enforcement will never call citizens to collect money.
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Gallery Credit: Lauren Wells
