09/23/2026
Lately, we’ve seen an uptick in fraud and scam reports to the Medina Police Department.
Scammers are experts at making themselves look official, but they all rely on the same tricks. Here is what you need to watch out for:
• Artificial Urgency: Scammers want you to panic. If a caller or text insists you must pay immediately to avoid arrest, legal action, or a frozen bank account, hang up. It’s a trap.
• The Gift Card Trick: No legitimate business, utility company, or law enforcement agency will ever ask you to pay a fine, bill, or debt using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
• Spoofed Numbers: Just because your caller ID says "Police Department" or the name of your bank doesn't mean it's them. Scammers can easily fake these numbers.
• Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking links in unexpected texts about "failed package deliveries" or "compromised accounts."
If you receive a suspicious call or text, hang up or delete it. Never give out your Social Security number, banking information, or passwords.
If you’re ever unsure whether a call from us or another agency is legitimate, look up the agency’s phone number from a trusted website or source and call them back directly.
Please look out for one another! Share this with your friends, neighbors, and especially elderly family members who are frequently targeted.
If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam or shared personal information, please call our non-emergency line at 952-258-5321 to file a report.
