Grand Forks Police Department Warning Residents About Scam

The scammers have been calling people from a number that is coming from the Grand Forks Police Department or the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office. They have also been sending text messages with QR codes.

The department posted on Facebook that “There has been an uptick in warrant scams lately, and with some Bitcoin ATMs being taken out, the scam has moved away from crypto. If someone calls you and says you have a warrant (usually for missing jury duty), and you have to pay a bond or fee to get you back in a queue… IT’S A SCAM! The scammers are being tricky, too, by spoofing their phone number to look like it is coming from the GFPD or GFSO. If you get one of these calls, hang up, and call us back to verify. If you get a text message with a picture of a warrant and barcodes or QR codes… IT’S A SCAM! Never send money to someone you don’t know using a barcode or QR code. The scammer’s playbook is to get you to act quickly, so take a second to breathe, think about it, and look for the red flags.”

Residents can call the Grand Forks Police Department at 701-787-8000 or the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office at 701-780-8280 with questions.