Cloquet Police Department Warns Of New Phone Scam

If you are in the Northland, listen up.

The Cloquet Police Department is warning those in the area of a phone scam. According to a message posted to their Facebook page, they responded to a report of one this week.

The department says an elderly man received a call from someone impersonating a cop from Arkansas. He used a ruse, saying the victim's grandson was in jail and needed money for bail. He was instructed to purchase around $2,000 in Walmart gift cards and then provide those codes over the phone. The scammer called again asking for an additional $2,000 to cover lawyer fees.

Here's what to do:

• Use caution whenever you get requests for money. It is better to be safe than sorry.
• If you get a call like this regarding a family member, consult with another family member before taking further action.
• Familiarize yourself with scams happening in the area so you know what warning signs to look for.

This isn't the only scam to hit the Northland recently. Just last month, a fast-moving cell phone scam hit Minnesota. Hackers were breaking into phones and setting up accounts in the victim's name.

For more information on how to protect yourself against phone scams, click here.