**Press Release**

We want to make businesses and people aware of a couple of scam attempts that occurred today. An individual called a local business claiming to be from **OSHA** and had **UPS tracking information** for receiving a certificate. The employee received a call on their cell phone that came across as a manager who worked at the business. During the call, the person on the other end acted as though they couldn't hear the employee and hung up. The store employee received a text message from a number claiming to be that manager, stating the other phone broke. The store employee began responding to the number, believing it was the manager. However, after a few minutes, the employee realized that this number wasn't the manager and stopped responding to the number. It was determined that this individual posing as the "manager" would have requested the employee to send money via UPS to this **OSHA** contact.

This is one of the more sophisticated scams we have investigated and should be used to educate businesses so they don't fall victim to this in the future. Please talk with your employees about potential scams and to be very vigilant about information they give out.

The other scam attempt was someone in town receiving a call from a number that said it was from the Oakes Police Department asking for money. Please note that law enforcement officers will never ask for money over the phone. If you receive such a call, it's essential to hang up immediately and avoid revealing any personal information. If you're unsure, call our office to verify the details. 

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Please ensure your employees are aware of these scams and remain vigilant when receiving calls or messages related to certificates or financial transactions. Scammers often use tactics like impersonating managers or law enforcement officers to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information or sending money.

If you encounter any suspicious communication, report it promptly and take necessary precautions to safeguard your personal and business information.