The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
FBI Denver has issued a warning to residents of Wyoming and Colorado that a new phone scam is hitting this area in which people posing as local law enforcement demand payment for a warrant of fine to clear the victim’s name.
“The FBI warns citizens that if they receive a phone call from someone claiming to be law enforcement asking for money or gift cards, to hang up and report it to their local law enforcement authorities and the FBI,” says FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider.
More than 300 women have been hit by this scam in Larimer County, Colorado, and 100 women in Denver. The number that appears on your caller ID may appear to be a genuine local law enforcement department, while the scammers may also use the names, positions and addresses of real local officers.
The scammers largely appear to be targeting women with local careers and an online presence.
The caller may state you have fines for outstanding warrants, or that the court is holding you in contempt for failure to appear for jury duty. You may be told you have been placed under a “gag order” and cannot talk to anyone else about the matter.
The scammer may demand you stay on the line until the money is paid and may ask for monetary gift cards, bank deposits or voucher purchases. You may be told that this must be paid in order to avoid jail time or clear court times.
FBI Denver also warns that scammers may ask for videos or pictures of you conducting a personal strip search. Victims have described the callers as having a Southern accent.
Law enforcement will never call you about an arrest warrant for missing jury duty, will never ask you to send money to clear a warrant and will never ask you to send pictures or videos of yourself.
