Police warn of scammer posing as “US Treasury”

ESTHERVILLE, IOWA – A Northern Iowa police agency is warning of a scam attempt.

The Estherville Police Department reports that they received a call Wednesday morning complaining of a scam. The caller stated that he received a call telling him that he had received a $7,000 grant. He was instructed to call a number and go to the Western Union Office to collect his money.

Chief of Police Brent Shatto says that officers returned a call to the suspects, who answered the phone, “US Treasury”. They informed the officers that they were giving a $7,000 Grant from the Federal Reserve Bank. Officers continued to question the suspects who then hung up on the officers.

“This is another attempt to take your money from you and get your personal information,” Chief Shatto says. “Please, if you receive a phone call from someone offering you free anything, ask them questions. They will usually figure out that you are not playing their game.

“As we like to say at the Estherville Police Department, ‘There’s no such thing as free money’. We also know that you have worked hard for your money and property, and we want you to keep it.

“Don’t let the bad guys win.”