Senior citizens warned about scam attempts

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent 

Fire destroyed a house May 1 in Sverdrup Township, rural Underwood.

Sheriff deputies said the fire was called in to authorities at 11:24 p.m. The fire was out of control when firefighters arrived. Authorities said the fire was a total loss. No injuries were reported.

Aassisting sheriff deputies were fire departments from Underwood, Battle Lake and the city of Ottertail. Also reporting to the scene of the fire was Ringdahl Ambulance Service. The exact cause of the fire was still unknown as of Tuesday, May 2.

Senior citizens warned about scam attempts

National TV networks have joined regional TV stations, sheriff offices, newspapers and radio stations in warning senior citizens about scam attempts not only via computers and phones but also through dating services.

If a computer is locked up, don’t respond to scammers who try to blackmail victims. Instead, use control, alt delete or use the shutoff button.  After restarting your computer, you should be back to normal. If not, contact your computer advisor or call the county Sheriff Office at (218) 998-8555.

Social media and dating apps have become hot spots for romance scammers over the years. These scams happen when someone believes they have found a good match through an online dating app or site, but the person they might be speaking to could be a scammer using false information and photos. 

One of the most notable red flags is when the person your loved one is speaking to starts requesting money, mentioning reasons like financial emergencies, medical bills or other urgent needs. Remind your elderly loved one never to send anyone money online or click on suspicious links.