Attorney General’s Office warns public of scam involving Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

Once again, the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office is warning the public about a scam– this time involving the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Attorney General Marty Jackley says in this version of the scam, someone claiming to be a member of the ICAC Task Force tells the citizen that they have been identified as having had sexual communications with a minor. The citizen is also told that the minor has tried to commit suicide.

Jackley says the scammer then tells the citizen that they will either be arrested or they can pay the parent of the child for medical costs. The scammers typically demand an amount ranging from $1000 to $8000, and insist that the payment be sent immediately.

To make the scam look more realistic, Jackley says some potential victims have also received text messages that include a picture of the victim’s property, making it look like the ICAC Task Force has been investigating them. He says the ICAC team does not conduct investigations in this manner and they are not calling citizens demanding money.

Jackley says people who receive such a call should call their local law enforcement agency or the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Individuals who receive such calls should also:

• Talk to someone you can trust before you provide money or personal information to someone who contacts you.
• Check and double check email addresses if they are asking you to send money.
• If the caller represents a business or government agency, don’t trust the telephone number they give you. Hang up and call the organization’s office.
• Treat calls or emails demanding immediate action with suspicion.
• Do not give into high pressured sales tactics.
• Do not provide financial or personal information over the phone or via the internet.
• If you are asked to send money, get off the telephone and seriously think about you are being asked to do.

Consumers who believe they may have been a victim of any type of scam should contact the Attorney General’s Office’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or at https://consumer.sd.gov/.