The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office is warning of an increased scam targeting grandparents.
The “Grandparents Scam” has been around for years but the local Dispatch Center received an increase in reports yesterday.
These particular types of scammers target older populations and impersonate their grandchildren, claiming to have been involved in some type of accident or need to post bail to avoid arrest.
With enough convincing and conversation, the scammers gain enough trust to have the victims transfer money or provide prepaid cards.
If you receive a call like this, have them confirm their identity to you. Do not provide personal information about yourself or your family members.
Scammers can retrieve phone numbers and family member names through social media, so ensure that these accounts have limited publicly accessible information.
