North Dakota Police Chiefs Get Reminder About Scams

(Adobe Stock via Prairie News Service)

(By Mike Moen. Prairie News Service) – Consumer protection experts said the fraud crisis in America and around the world runs deeper than what is reported and it is not just the public getting scam alerts. North Dakota police departments are also joining the conversation about their role.

The Federal Trade Commission said consumers lost more than $12 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from the year prior.

Paul Greenwood, a former prosecutor who trains law enforcement and support groups on preventing fraud crimes, who will be speaking at AARP-hosted outreach events in North Dakota this month, fears people are still reluctant to report being scammed, and if they do, local authorities face barriers tracking down those responsible.

“Often fraud is regarded as a nonviolent crime, and there’s been pressure put on law enforcement to focus on the violent offenders of our society,” Greenwood noted.