Faribault Police, Local Victim Lost $33,000 in Scam

Faribault Police wanted to get the word out about a few scams they've received reports about over the last few weeks.

Earlier this month, officers took a report from a couple who reported receiving a call stating their daughter had been kidnapped and demanding they go to a local store to send them money.

While the parents were receiving this call, their daughter received a call from someone purporting to be from the Rice County Sheriff's Office.

The caller told her she had missed jury duty and demanded money or face arrest.

The person instructed the victim to get "Green Dot" cards and transfer the money.

Faribault Police located the daughter safe and sound, but not before she transferred over $4,000 to the scammer.

Faribault Police want you to know that law enforcement will never call and demand money to threaten arrest.  If a person is the subject of a warrant, they will arrest them in person and they may post bail at the jail.

Warrants are NOT issued for missing jury duty.

In another recent scam, Faribault police responded to a local bank who reported a customer withdrew large amounts of money to,"bail her grandson out of jail."

The woman said she had received a call from a "jailer" demanding bail money.

The scammer was very quick on the phone and did not provide details to the victim.

The scammer instructed the victim to to hide cash in a magazine and then mail the magazine to an address in Michigan, which turned out to be vacant.

The victim lost $33,000.

Faribault Police say they have detectives working on both cases in an attempt to identify the scammers.

Faribault Police Captain Neal Pederson says, "Law enforcement will not demand money by phone.  If in doubt, please give us a call and we can help determine the veracity of calls from people claiming to be in custody."

Captain Pederson adds, "Your best bet is to han up and not talk to people making these type of calls."

Faribault Police also wanted to remind residents the lobby of the Police Department will be closed Monday, January 1st in observance of New Year's Day.