Thermopolis Police Impersonation Scam:

On Shop Small Saturday, a man calling himself Lieutenant Shepard and impersonating the Thermopolis Police Department, was calling businesses to ask for business information and threaten to put the business’s accounts on hold due to deposits of counterfeit money. Here’s the full story from Oil City News: https://oilcity.news/general/2020/11/28/thermopolis-pd-warn-of-imposter-contacting-businesses-saturday.

BASF Insurance:

A Laramie citizen reported a phone call from BASF Insurance. The citizen reported that the call sounded like a recording but was a live person. The caller asked “how old are you?” which made the citizen feel like it could be a scam call. The citizen hung up before confirming that this was an actual scam. CyberWyoming Note: BASF insurance appears to be corporate insurance for insurance specialists, not for an average citizen.

Family Inheritance Investment Scam:

A Casper citizen reported an email scam with the subject line of “INHERITANCE INVESTING” from the elderly son of a Nigerian lawyer who supposedly served with an unnamed Nigerian president. The scam ask you to help invest the inheritance. The contact information is nurudeenabbakyari@protonmail.com, but the email pretended to be coming from a Casper economic development agency.

German Citizen from Zimbabwe Funds Transfer Scam:

An email with the subject of ‘Request” from angelacam2017@gmail.com asking you’re your personal information so that she can ‘transfer funds” to your personal account because of a land dispute in Zimbabwe was reported by a Casper citizen.

Casper PD – 3 Scam Alerts:

The Casper Police Department reported to Oil City News three scams. https://oilcity.news/community/2020/11/29/casper-pd-warns-of-increased-volume-of-scam-calls-and-offers-resource-to-protect-vulnerable-adults/

• First, an extortion scam that used to be primarily on dating sites, has been recently seen on Facebook. The scammer will attempt to gain your trust and then solicit a lewd photo. Once the photo is received, then the scammer attempts to extort money. The PD recommends that you don’t add friends on Facebook that you don’t personally know.

• Second, Black Hills Energy said customers had been receiving calls saying their bill is delinquent and that their service will be disconnected. If you receive this call, hang up, look up the phone number on your utility bill, and call Black Hills directly.

• Third, a person claiming to be a Natrona County Deputy is not calling you to extort money because there is a warrant out for your arrest. This is an ongoing and recurring scam nationwide.

Social Security Administration Phone Call Alert:

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is not calling because your social security number is suspended. This is a scam. The Laramie citizen that reported this call said the phone number for the scam was 518-816-3570, but be aware that the scammers change numbers often. CyberWyoming Note: In looking at past call reports, this scam seems to be on a monthly schedule, so be especially aware of it at the beginning of each month.

Fake Shipment Scam:

A Cheyenne citizen reported an email claiming to be from a nonspecific organization, saying they erroneously received an international package for you. The company x-rayed the package (because every company has an x-ray machine, right?) and found that it has a large amount of money in it. The scam email came from jm1940100@gmail.com with the subject line of SHIPMENT. The contact information claims to be louismiller380@gmail.com. Do not open the Google Form. Windows

Defender Scam Alert:

A CyberUSA affiliate reported $299.99 fake product scam from microsoftssubscription837@gmail.com asking you to confirm your order for Windows Defender. Please note that Windows Defender is the real antivirus software that is packaged with the Windows 10 operating system and is not purchased separately. Also, note that Microsoft would never email you from a Gmail (Google) address. Do not call the phone number or respond to the email.

FBI Alert:

Scammers are attempting to impersonate the FBI online by spoofing (imitating) FBI websites. Look Alike website addresses include us-fbigov.com, fbiigovv.com, fbiusagov.online, fbiusagov.com, and fbiusgov.com. The fake websites are often used to steal your user id and password, personal information, financial information and spread malware. The FBI has issued a public service announcement at this (correct) web address: https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2020/PSA201123.

Scambusters.org Adobe Flash Alert:

A popular video and animation program called Adobe Flash is being discontinued on 12/31/2020. Please uninstall it from your computer as it will be open to hacking and vulnerabilities once it is no longer supported by Adobe.

MS-ISAC Patch Now Alert:

The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) has published a patch now (update your software) alert for Mozilla’s Thunderbird email client and Google’s Chrome browser. If you use these products, make sure the software (or firmware) updated.

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• Please report your scam to phishing@cyberwyoming.org to alert your friends and neighbors.

Other ways to report a scam:

• Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker: bbb.org/scamtracker/us/reportscam
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftccomplaintassistant.gov
• Report your scam to the FBI at www.ic3.gov/complaint
• Reported unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Registration. Online at donotcall.gov/report.html or call 1-888-382-1222, option 3
• Office of the Inspector General: oig.ssa.gov
• AARP Fraud Watch Network (any age welcome) Helpline 877-908-3360
• IRS: report email scams impersonating the IRS to phishing@irs.gov
• Call the Wyoming Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) for assistance with potential Medicare fraud, abuse, or errors at 1 800 856-4398

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