NEW ULM — A courier’s suspicion about delivering a package to a mail parcel facility on Oct. 9 led to the recovery of more than $25,000 in cash for a Brown County resident who was the intended victim of a scam.

The previous day, the victim checked their bank accounts online and noticed an ‘alert pop-up,’ directing them to call an 800 number regarding computer viruses.

The victim called, and an individual had the victim check various files in their computer. The victim was told their computer was attacked by hackers and they could be criminally liable for the hacker’s actions.

Later, the victim was contacted by someone posing as a “fraud investigator” with their bank and told them a charge was made against one of their accounts. The fraud investigator convinced the victim to withdraw more than $25,000 from the account at a New Ulm bank and give it to a “U.S. Marshal” so they could keep the money safe in the Federal Reserve.

The victim packaged the $25,000 and was told to meet a U.S. Marshall at New Ulm business and hand over the package. The victim gave the package of money to a courier. The courier was told bring the package to a mail parcel facility, but became suspicious as to why a transportation service was needed to deliver a package to a mail parcel facility.

The courier instead contacted law enforcement and the package was turned over to the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force (MRVDTF). The MRVDTF obtained a search warrant to examine contents of the package and found more than $25,000 in cash inside. Contacting individuals behind the scheme, agents determined the scammers appeared to be operating out of state

DTF agents traced the case back to a New Ulm bank and learned that the money was withdrawn by a Brown County resident the previous day. The resident was contacted about cash.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office has investigated similar scams in the past year from Brown County residents who were convinced by scammers to withdraw cash, bank wire transfer money to an account or send funds via a Bitcoin kiosk commonly found at gas stations and convenience stores.

The sheriff’s office cautions anyone asked to transfer a large sum of money in cash, Bitcoin, bank wire transfer or gift cards based on problems with your computer or bank accounts, emergencies with distant family members, or online romantic connections to be extremely suspicious, take no action and contact local police or sheriff’s office.

The drug task force urged individuals to always verify the legitimacy of any request directly with their financial institution or a trusted source before sending money or sharing personal information.