The Sac City Police Department is warning area residents about a resurfacing scam where fraudsters send threatening text messages claiming to be members of the MS-13 gang and demand money. In a social media post, authorities say the extortion-style scheme first appeared around 2020 and has re-emerged recently. Victims report receiving threatening texts or calls from unknown numbers, and the scammers often include personal details, such as family names or addresses that are gathered from social media or public records to make the threats appear credible. They then demand payment through wire transfers, cash apps, or gift cards and threaten violence if the target does not comply. Law enforcement urges residents not to respond to the messages and refrain from giving in to the pressure to send money. Instead, they recommend taking screenshots of the messages, contacting local law enforcement, and filing a report through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Officials also encourage Iowans to review privacy settings and limit publicly available personal information, as that makes it more difficult for these criminals to coerce potential victims. According to the Common Sense Institute, Iowans have lost an estimated $93 million to $573 million to financial fraud in 2025.
