Lisa Investigates: Law Enforcement Impersonation Scam Hits Rochester—Victims Targeted With Threats, Demands for Cash
By Lisa Loucks-Christenson, Investigative Journalist
Published in the Rochester Sun Times News, May 28, 2025, 6:17 P.M. CDT
ROCHESTER, Minn.—A concerning new wave of phone scams is sweeping through Rochester, with fraudsters impersonating Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department officials and demanding thousands of dollars from unsuspecting residents using increasingly sophisticated tactics.
In one recent case, a scammer first attempted direct contact by calling a man on his cell phone, asking for a specific person. When the call was blocked and the scammer could not reach the intended target, they switched tactics and called the company’s business line. This time, the caller ID displayed “Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department.” The male caller then issued a series of threats, demanding $3,000 be paid immediately at the jail drop box or face two bench warrants and imminent arrest for missing jury duty.
This particular victim, who had previously worked in the Olmsted County jail, recognized the exact drop box location the scammer referenced. The incident raises critical questions: Who has access to that payment drop box, and what is the contact information for the person responsible for its oversight? These are questions that remain unanswered and are of public interest, given the potential for scammers to exploit knowledge of jail infrastructure.
When the victim refused to comply with the demands, the scammer pressed further, asking, “How much can you come up with right now?” and even offered to accept half the amount, but “no less.”
To be certain, the man had his attorney contact the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. The attorney confirmed there were no warrants out for the man’s arrest. The sheriff’s dispatcher further informed the man that it was just a scam and advised him to ignore it. However, the dispatcher’s advice—“just ignore it”—is easier said than done. For this man, simply blocking the number is not a practical solution; he regularly answers legitimate calls from the sheriff’s department related to his clients, and blocking the number could mean missing important communications.
Scammers often use this multi-step approach to increase their chances of reaching a victim directly. By first trying the cell phone, they hope for immediate, personal contact. When that fails—due to a blocked call or no answer—they move to alternate numbers, such as a work line, where they can continue their pressure tactics and exploit the appearance of legitimacy, especially if the caller ID is spoofed to show a trusted source.
This is not an isolated event. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) reports a surge in similar scams in recent weeks. Scammers are using blocked or spoofed numbers to make calls appear as if they are coming directly from law enforcement. Victims describe callers with southern accents, sometimes identifying themselves as “Brad Green,” who claim the recipient has missed a court date or failed jury duty and must pay immediately to avoid arrest.
Law enforcement officials stress that the Sheriff’s Office will never call to demand payment, threaten arrest, or accept gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash drop-offs as payment. All legitimate legal notifications are sent by mail or delivered in person by uniformed officers.
But the scam’s use of the Sheriff’s Office’s official phone number—via caller ID spoofing—poses a significant challenge. Many residents and businesses rely on legitimate calls from law enforcement, making it difficult to simply block numbers. The unanswered question: What is OCSO doing to address the misuse of its number and to protect the integrity of its communications with the public?
The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up and verify the claim by calling the official non-emergency number: 507-328-6800. Do not use any number provided by the caller or rely on caller ID alone.
As your Lisa Investigates journalist, I am committed to pursuing answers to the questions this scam raises: Who has access to the jail’s payment drop box, and how is that access monitored? What steps is the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office taking to address the ongoing spoofing of their official phone number and to protect the public from these sophisticated scams? I will continue to investigate these issues and report developments to keep our community informed and safe.
Stay vigilant, verify any suspicious requests directly with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office at their official non-emergency number (507-328-6800), and share this information with others. Together, through awareness and action, we can help prevent these scams from claiming more victims.
Lisa Loucks-Christenson is an award-winning investigative journalist, author, and publisher for the Rochester Sun Times News. Her “Lisa Investigates” column brings clarity and accountability to issues affecting our community.