Scammer Impersonating Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office has taken reports of a scammer claiming to be a member of their agency. 

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That’s according to Lt. Malinda Olson. She said dispatch has taken several calls in recent days regarding the scam call. 

Olson said the scammer claims to be Sgt. Joseph Walker from the office’s civil division. The caller then tells their target they need to immediately send cash to resolve a civil matter or to settle a warrant issue. 

Olson says a man named Joseph Walker does not work for the sheriff’s office. So far no one has fallen victim to the scam and the caller is not spoofing the sheriff’s office’s phone number, according to Olson.  

The scam calls have come from a phone number that does not have a 507 area code. Olson  says the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office will never call anyone and ask for money. 

Olson advises anyone who receives the scam call to firmly reject the caller’s demands, saying scammers look to create urgency by scaring their targets into submission. Anyone wishing to get in touch with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office can call  507-328-6000. 

The phone number is available on the sheriff’s office’s website and in the local phone book. Olson says anyone wishing to verify being contacted by the sheriff’s office can do so by calling the phone number.