Police Warn Residents About an Email Ransom Scam

Area residents should be alert of yet another scam to try to take away your hard-earned money.

According to Decorah Police, their department has received several complaints regarding a ransom type of scam.

How it works: the victim is contacted by email or regular postal mail by someone claiming they have secret information about the victim that they will make public, unless the victim pays them to stop the action. The scammer then instructs the victim how to send them money to stop the disclosure of this so-called secret to the public, or to other family members.

Authorities say this is designed to scare the recipient into paying a ransom for personal information.

Police warn that you should never send money or give out personal information to an unknown entity, and just delete these emails if received. Also, notify your local law enforcement center.