The Mankato Police and Fire departments issued a warning to residents about a rise in scam phone calls from fraudsters pretending to be law enforcement officials. The scammers employ a variety of tactics to extort money, including false claims regarding missed jury duty, nonexistent arrest warrants, or supposedly imprisoned family members, as reported by the Mankato Police and Fire.

Increasing vigilance is advised for residents as these scams continue to proliferate, capitalizing on fear and trust in law enforcement. The Police and Fire departments stressed, "Regardless of the style of scam, please know that police officers will never call you and demand payment for these things over the phone." Scammers, often operating with compelling scripts, aim to instill panic and urgency, duping unsuspecting individuals into parting with their money under the guise of authority.

According to a social media post by the Mankato Police and Fire, they urge the community to treat with suspicion any unexpected financial requests via phone calls, emails, or letters from unknown individuals. Recipients of such communication are encouraged to hang up or ignore these demands and contact 911 to verify their authenticity.

The challenge posed by these scams extends beyond their initial impact on victims, straining law enforcement resources due to the difficulty in investigating them. "These scams are extremely difficult to investigate so the more we can do to prevent them from occurring in the first place, the better off everyone will be," the Mankato Police and Fire said.