From staff reports

Freeborn County Sheriff Don Nolander is warning area residents to be cautious.

Wednesday, July 14, 1999

Freeborn County Sheriff Don Nolander is warning area residents to be cautious.

He said a rural Freeborn County man reported being scammed Wednesday when a truck pulled into his farm and the driver offered to paint one of the farm buildings.

Nolander said the man told the area farmer he had &uot;just enough paint&uot; left from another job to paint the building. The building was painted Wednesday and the paint reportedly washed off in the rain Thursday morning.

While this was the only report by Thursday afternoon, Nolander said the incident is typical for traveling scam artists who target several farms in an area before moving to another location.

As a result he is warning area residents to be wary before accepting unsolicited offers to provide work on a &uot;strictly cash&uot; basis.

&uot;They need to check with reputable people,&uot; he said. &uot;If it sounds too good, it is.&uot;