DETROIT LAKES — Scammers are using a trusted name to attempt eliciting funds from area residents.
Becker County Sheriff Todd Glander was made aware that scammers hacked his personal Facebook page and used its messaging app to call people on his friends list. The scammer then asked those on the other end of the line to purchase gift cards and provide the card numbers.
Glander said he was told the scammer posed as him and said that he had won a prize, but in order to collect the prize his social media friends had to purchase gift cards on his behalf, or something of the sort.
“A person I knew reached out to me and asked if I was asking her for money,” Glander said, noting that was when he became aware of the hacked social media account. “Those requests are not coming through me or the sheriff’s office.”
Glander’s friend filed a report with the Detroit Lakes Police Department at 3:47 p.m. on Thursday, June 9.
Every week there are several calls on the police blotters about area residents either reporting scam attempts or falling victim to them. Glander explained those perpetrating the scams are able to make a caller’s identification system read a fake number. For example, someone may receive a call that appears to be from the Becker County Sheriff’s Office. However, the person on the other line may be a scammer using a spoof app.
“They can take any number and make it look like that is who is calling someone,” Glander…
