A new twist to an old scam

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl is warning residents to be aware of a new angle on an old scam.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department received a report from a Crow Wing County resident this week of a possible Canadian lottery scam by phone. The resident told the male caller, who said he was a detective, to contact the local sheriff's department so that she could verify his information.

The suspect called the sheriff's department and requested to speak with an officer. After speaking with one of the deputies the suspect called the resident back, told her that he had spoke nwith a deputy and provided the deputy's name. The suspect said the deputy would be calling her to verify this lottery. The caller then had a second person call back pretending to be the deputy and told her to send the check to the suspect.

Dahl wants everyone to be aware of the use of his office's name to attempt to legitimize the scam and to make clear to everyone that any solicitation for money in the form of wire transfer or cashier's checks is fraud.

For more information on cons and scams visit the sheriff's department Web site at www.co.crow-wing.mn.us.