Police Officers Warn Residents About Latest Scam

From the Minneapolis Police Department: The Minneapolis Police Department warns residents of a scam that recently targeted a senior citizen. On Wednesday, July 31, an elderly female received numerous calls on her cell phone and her home phone. The caller ID indicated the calls were coming from “United States G” and “Social Security Admin.”

The caller advised the elderly female that she owed money to the government and that if she told anyone she could be federally arrested. The person on the phone advised the female he would pick her up at her home and bring her to a store where she could buy gift cards to pay him.

The female was picked up at her home in a newer large SUV, possibly a Tahoe or Suburban and taken to a store nearby. The woman’s family contacted police who responded to the store and found the female safe, but were unable to locate the suspicious vehicle. The driver of the vehicle is described as a heavy set Hispanic male in his 40s wearing a pink shirt.

The MPD advises everyone to not give out personal information out over the phone, or get in a vehicle with anyone you do not know. If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from a governmental agency, advise them you will hang up and call the agency directly.