Phone Scam February 2025

DATE & TIME:                                    02-19-2025 / 11:04 am             

LOCATION:                                        Liberty, Nebraska                                            

OFFENSE:                                          Phone Scam / Motor Vehicle Accident

CASE #:                                            2025-0675                              

DETAILS:          

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, a resident of rural Liberty, Nebraska received a phone call at 10:48 am from a suspect who stated he was a police officer in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and that his daughter had been arrested after being involved in a motor vehicle accident and a pregnant female in the other car had lost the baby due to the accident.  At the time, the victim did not notice that the Eau Claire officer was calling from a phone number (402) 381-2314 that was a local number.

The suspect/s called back at 11:04 am and one of them posed as an attorney, “Michael Rivers”, using the phone number 281-935-6437 who allowed them to speak with their “daughter”.  When the victim talked to the female suspect, he said she did not sound the same and she told him her nose had been broken in the automobile accident, which sounded plausible at the time.

The suspect said the bond was $220,000.00 and asked if the victim could come up with $22,000.00.  The victim said he could and went to Security First Bank in Beatrice to withdraw $22,000.00.  He was to call the suspect/s back after he withdrew the cash, and they would tell him how to get the money to them.

Fortunately, the assistant branch manager at Security first spoke with the victim and convinced him this was a fraud, and they were able to contact the daughter who confirmed she had not been arrested.

Suspects often play on emotions and will ask for secrecy or make threats of arrest and jail time.  Do not fall for these ploys.  Speak with a trusted financial advisor, such as a banker or accountant, another family member, or call law enforcement to speak with a deputy or an officer.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Sergeant T. Hanson #90310