Rochester Woman Out of $10,000 in Police Chief Impersonator Scam

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Another person has fallen for a scam involving a man impersonating Rochester’s police chief.

The Rochester Police Department is aware of five cases so far and four became victims.

RPD Capt. Casey Moilanen says a person identifying himself as Chief Jim Franklin or another officer has contacted the victims, offering to help resolve their criminal cases if they send him money.

Four of the victims are UMR students and three did send money or gift cards. In one case, the money was sent in a package through FedEx and was stopped before it was delivered after the student’s parents found out.

The most recent incident happened last Wednesday.

Moilanen says a 20-year-old woman received a call from a man who said he was Franklin. The man told the woman she was wanted on drug charges in the Dominican Republic. He told her she would be arrested unless she sent him $10,000 “to make the charges go away. “ The woman wired the money to an unknown destination. She reported the scam on Saturday. Moilanen says it's not known if she is also a UMR student.

Moilanen says anyone receiving such a call should contact his department immediately.

News Update: Two-way traffic is once again being allowed on the Highway 60 bridge in Zumbrota.