Numerous Minot citizens have reported receiving scam calls in the past two days from a person impersonating as a deputy.

According to the Ward County Sheriff’s Department, the caller is a male claiming to be Sgt. Ryan Summers from the sheriff’s department and uses a computer-generated number to make it appear that the call is coming from the department. The scammer claims the citizen had been issued a jury summons, failed to show up and a warrant for their arrest was issued. In some calls, the scammer has listed a judge by name as having signed the warrants. The scammer then requested the citizens provide bitcoin to pay the bond for the warrants.

The Ward County Sheriff’s Department will never ask for any type of payment over the phone and in the case of any warrant, it would have an individual call its main office.

People are advised that scammers can be very convincing and may use names of actual deputies or court personnel that they find online. Personal information should not be provided to anyone on the phone that is suspected of being involved in a scam. Contact the department or other local law enforcement with any questions.