Fort Collins, CO – Scammers are allegedly taking advantage of the ongoing federal government shutdown to impersonate federal agencies and target vulnerable residents in Colorado, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a public alert issued Monday, scammers are posing as representatives from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP, reaching out via text messages and phone calls. The perpetrators reportedly promise “priority assistance” and request sensitive personal information under the guise of offering help during the shutdown.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that no legitimate government agency contacts citizens via text, social media, or phone calls to request personal or financial information. Authorities warn residents not to trust caller IDs, which can be spoofed to appear as if they are from official agencies.
In the alert, officials also urged the public never to send payments via cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin), gift cards, wire transfers, Zelle, or Venmo to unfamiliar parties, as these methods are common in scam operations. “Use your spidey senses to be wary of these scammers,” the agency advised in its post.
Anyone contacted by a suspected scammer is encouraged to independently verify the information by calling the actual agency using publicly listed phone numbers—not those provided by the caller.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant, report suspicious communications, and share the warning with friends and family to prevent further fraud.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have a tip? Message us!
