WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau Police are warning residents about an uptick in scams of all kinds.
In a Facebook post, officers noted that “fraud is now the #1 case type investigated by Wausau detectives.” The post adds that cases of fraud have doubled in the first three months of the year, with victims losing tens of thousands of dollars per incident. In extreme cases, victim losses have hit six figures.
Scammers mostly target those 65 and older, but officers note that anyone can be hit. “Phishing attempts aren’t rare—they’re constant. And they’re hitting us all.”
Scams often start as unsolicited phone calls, text messages, or emails. The scammers will pressure you to act fast by threatening to cut off services or bring legal or criminal action against you if you don’t pay up. Once they get you on the hook, they will demand payment through a gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency transaction.
“No legitimate business or law enforcement agency will ever ask you to move money, pay with cryptocurrency or gift cards, or avoid arrest by making a payment,” officers add. “If it feels urgent, secretive, or just doesn’t sit right—it’s a scam.”
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