DATE & TIME: 06-06-2025 / 1:21 pm
LOCATION: Beatrice
OFFENSE: Catfish Scam
CASE #: 2025-2588
DETAILS:
The Gage County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Beatrice Police Department on Friday, June 6, 2025 when officers from the police department were on other assignments. The sheriff’s office responded to a report of a male in a red pickup truck who was at a business on 6th Street, but based on his comments to employees, they believe he was being scammed via a “Catfish” scam which is a deceptive practice where someone creates a fake online identity, often using stolen photos and information, to trick individuals into forming a romantic or close relationship. The employee told the victim he was being scammed, but was concerned the victim would fall prey to further exploitation.
An investigator from the sheriff’s office located the victim’s vehicle parked in the alley north of the post office and the victim was in his vehicle. The victim stated he believed he was going to meet a female for a romantic interlude at a local motel. He was eventually convinced he had been scammed. He had sent several hundred dollars over the past few days by going to a Kwik Shop in Lincoln to send Apple card information to the suspect.
He was advised to contact the Lincoln Police Department to report the theft by deception / fraud, since he had communicated with the suspect from his home in Lincoln and had sent the money from Kwik Shops in Lincoln.
Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903
Sergeant T. Hanson #90310