(MILWAUKEE) A western Wisconsin family trying to help a loved one get out of jail ended up losing nearly $3,000 to a scammer pretending to be a police officer.
State consumer officials say the case shows how quickly these schemes can spiral, especially when families are under stress and feel pressure to act fast.
Michelle Reinen with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says scammers are using real details they find online to sound convincing. In this case, the caller told the family their relative could be released for $725. The family sent the money through a banking app — then sent it three more times after the caller claimed the payments didn’t go through.
“This really just highlights the importance of double checking and verifying details before sending anyone money, especially when the situation is brand new and never been experienced before,” Reinen said in an interview with 620 WTMJ.
The family only realized something was wrong after contacting local officials, who confirmed no such payment was required.
Reinen says the best defense is to slow down and verify before sending money — even if the situation feels urgent. She urges people to independently contact law enforcement or a trusted source if they get a call, text, or message claiming to involve a family member.
Anyone who thinks they may be dealing with a scam can call the state’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-422-7128.
