Sheriff's office reports online scams, offers community fraud presentation
February 24, 2026 | East Bethel, Anoka County, Minnesota
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The East Bethel City Council on Feb. 23 heard a monthly report from the sheriff's office that highlighted online scams and policing activity in January.
A sheriff's office representative summarized activity including about 342 calls for service, four assaults, four theft reports, two damage-to-property calls, 19 arrests and 106 traffic stops that produced 19 citations. The presentation included several specific incidents: a Jan. 9 stop by Deputy Vitek that led to an arrest for driving after license cancellation, a Jan. 19 fraud investigation in which a resident paid $500 through Venmo for a listed John Deere tractor and never received the machinery, and a Jan. 28 high-speed pursuit ending with a PIT maneuver in Isanti County.
“We don't call and ask for money. We never call and tell you that you have a warrant,” the sheriff's office representative told the council, urging residents to hang up and call 911 to confirm suspicious contacts. The representative said Deputy Sullivan identified suspects in the tractor case and forwarded charges to the investigations team, and that no contraband was found in the high-speed stop.
Council members and residents pressed for details about how the tractor listing—originally pictured on an Ontario auction site—connected to local suspects. The sheriff's office said the persons identified were local and within their ability to enforce; the listing photo was used without authorization. The office also warned that scammers can spoof bank caller ID and use sophisticated techniques, noting that tracking money to overseas accounts often requires federal assistance.
Council members asked whether the sheriff's office could provide public education. The sheriff's representative said investigator Derek Lien has prepared a presentation and offered to schedule a session for a town-hall or senior-group setting.
The council did not take formal action on public-safety policy at the meeting. The sheriff's office invited residents to a meet-the-deputy night next month and encouraged people to verify requests for money or personal information before responding.
A sheriff's office representative summarized activity including about 342 calls for service, four assaults, four theft reports, two damage-to-property calls, 19 arrests and 106 traffic stops that produced 19 citations. The presentation included several specific incidents: a Jan. 9 stop by Deputy Vitek that led to an arrest for driving after license cancellation, a Jan. 19 fraud investigation in which a resident paid $500 through Venmo for a listed John Deere tractor and never received the machinery, and a Jan. 28 high-speed pursuit ending with a PIT maneuver in Isanti County.
“We don't call and ask for money. We never call and tell you that you have a warrant,” the sheriff's office representative told the council, urging residents to hang up and call 911 to confirm suspicious contacts. The representative said Deputy Sullivan identified suspects in the tractor case and forwarded charges to the investigations team, and that no contraband was found in the high-speed stop.
Council members and residents pressed for details about how the tractor listing—originally pictured on an Ontario auction site—connected to local suspects. The sheriff's office said the persons identified were local and within their ability to enforce; the listing photo was used without authorization. The office also warned that scammers can spoof bank caller ID and use sophisticated techniques, noting that tracking money to overseas accounts often requires federal assistance.
Council members asked whether the sheriff's office could provide public education. The sheriff's representative said investigator Derek Lien has prepared a presentation and offered to schedule a session for a town-hall or senior-group setting.
The council did not take formal action on public-safety policy at the meeting. The sheriff's office invited residents to a meet-the-deputy night next month and encouraged people to verify requests for money or personal information before responding.
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