Grand Rapids, MN Residents Targeted in $177,000 Grandparent Scam

Grand Rapids, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a brazen scam targeting local residents, where scammers pose as law enforcement officers and falsely claim that a grandson has been arrested and requires immediate bail payment.

Multiple Reports & Massive Financial Loss

📌 Between 8 to 10 reports of this scam were received on Monday by Itasca County dispatch.
📌 In one shocking incident, a Grand Rapids resident was scammed out of $177,000 in cash after a male suspect showed up in person at their home, falsely claiming their grandson had been in an accident and arrested.
📌 Believing the fraudulent story, the victim handed over the money directly to the scammer.

Sheriff’s Office Warning

Sheriff Joe Dasovic emphasized:
🚨 Law enforcement will never request cash payments or personal financial information over the phone.
🚨 If you receive a call like this, do not provide money or personal details—instead, contact law enforcement immediately.

How to Protect Yourself from This Scam

✔️ Verify the claim by calling your family members directly.
✔️ Never give cash, gift cards, or wire transfers to someone claiming to be law enforcement.
✔️ Report suspicious calls immediately to the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office at (218) 326-3477.

If you or someone you know has been contacted by these fraudsters, authorities urge you to report the scam as soon as possible.

I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRFNews

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