Ely Police Report - Phone Scams

The Ely Police Department has received reports of a phone scam targeting individuals by convincing them that their bank accounts have been hacked or compromised.

Here’s how the scam typically works: Scammers will call and claim that someone has accessed your bank account or made unauthorized transactions. They may even provide specific details, such as how much money was supposedly taken or where a fraudulent charge occurred, to make their story sound legitimate.

They may even then offer to transfer you to the “fraud department” at your financial institution. Beware: The person they transfer you to is also part of the scam!

This is just one of the many scams they use, so we have also included several things to watch for when you receive any suspicious calls.

Warning signs to watch for: Requests for personal information: Never provide your Social Security number, account numbers, passwords, or other sensitive information to someone who calls you unexpectedly.

Requests to withdraw or transfer money: Scammers may instruct you to withdraw cash, transfer funds, or move money to a supposedly “safe” account.

Gift cards: If someone tells you to purchase gift cards for any reason involving your bank account, it is almost certainly a scam.

Secrecy: Scammers will often tell you that you cannot discuss what is happening with anyone, including family members or bank employees.

Urgency: They will pressure you to act immediately, claiming you only have a short amount of time before your money is lost.

Remember: Just because someone knows details about you or your account does not mean they are legitimate. Scammers can also manipulate caller ID to make it appear that they are calling from a trusted organization.

What should you do? If you receive a suspicious call, hang up! Do not follow their instructions or provide any information.

Contact your financial institution directly using a verified phone number from your bank card, statement, or official website.

You can also contact the Ely Police Department for assistance:

• Ely Police Department: 218-3653222

• Non-Emergency Dispatch: 218727-8770 If you are unsure whether something is legitimate, please call us and request to speak with an officer. We would much rather help you verify a suspicious call before you lose your money than investigate a scam after the fact.

Unfortunately, once money has been sent to these scammers, recovering it can be extremely difficult, and in many cases, the money is never recovered.

With the holiday season approaching, we expect scammers to become even more active.

Please share this information, especially with elderly family members, friends, and neighbors who may not use Facebook. Take a few minutes to have a conversation with them about these scams. That simple conversation could prevent someone from losing their savings.

When in doubt, hang up and call us. We are here to help!

Ely Police Report - Phone Scams

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