By Weston Pope
The Sheridan Press
Via- Wyoming News Exchange

SHERIDAN — As technology continues to advance, digital scams are becoming more complex and common, extending into Sheridan.

“Fraud is extremely, extremely prevalent,” Sheridan Police Department Police Officer Elizabeth Shafer said. “And it’s so, so frustrating because there’s so little we can do about it.”

The financial losses due to scams have already been significant this year, Shafer said.

“This year alone, we’ve had an $80,000 and a $16,000 scam already, and it’s just May,” Shafer said.

Every type of scam is reaching Sheridan residents, from impersonation calls to online schemes, Shafer said.

“The types of scams we are seeing are everything…every type of scam,” Shafer said. “We’re getting grandparent scams, bank scams, tech support scams, impersonator scams… if you can name it, it is still happening.”

The grandparent scam is a type of fraud where criminals impersonate a grandchild or close relative in an urgent, fake emergency — such as being arrested or in a car accident — to demand immediate money.

Bank scams frequently involve impersonation, where scammers use caller ID spoofing to act as bank fraud department employees. 

Tech support scams involve fraudsters tricking users into believing their device has a security issue — like a virus or hacking — to gain remote access, steal personal information or demand payment for fake services.

Many of these scams are random, targeting large groups at once. A key tactic scammers use is fear and urgency, Shafer noted.

“They’ll get a list of phone numbers and they will just mass text or mass call everyone on that list and they’ll communicate with the people who respond,” Shafer said. “If somebody gets on the line and is in any way aggressive… ‘You have to do this now or else…,’ that is a scam. They’re doing that to scare good, honest people.”

Shafer’s advice in those situations is simple.

“If they are at all aggressive… hang up, hang up, hang up,” Shafer said. “You don’t need to talk to them.”

CyberWyoming Alliance Cybersecurity Engagement Manager and Business Counselor Natalie Demple echoed that advice, urging people to evaluate the situation.

“Attackers rely on urgency, impersonation, and trust to manipulate their targets, whether posing as a company, government agency, employer, or community leader. The safest response is to pause and verify before taking any action,” Demple said.

The CyberWyoming Alliance is a statewide, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Laramie whose mission is to increase cybersecurity awareness, education and outreach in communities across the state of Wyoming.

At the same time, scams are becoming harder to recognize, Shafer said. Advances in artificial intelligence have allowed scammers to create more convincing messages, eliminating the spelling and grammar mistakes that used to serve as warning signs.

Shafer urges residents to use their instincts if they suspect something is wrong and to act quickly.

“If you get a call from an unknown number or a text message, you need to think… this might be a scam,” Shafer said. “Stop talking to the scammer. Hang up the phone. The longer you stay on the phone with a scammer, the more likely you are to be scammed.”

If money has already been sent, time is crucial. Shafer urges people to contact their bank and report the incident.

“Time is of the essence to get that back or to stop that transaction,” Shafer said.

Additionally, CyberWyoming Alliance encourages residents to discuss scams with friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. Research shows that prior awareness of scams significantly reduces the likelihood of victimization, Demple said.

Despite the increasing problem, scams are preventable with education and awareness continuing to be the most effective defense, Shafer said.

“This is 100% preventable. We could eliminate scams in Sheridan. What we would need to do is educate everybody on the scams that are out there and teach them red flags and show them how it’s a scam,” Shafer said.

The SPD offers a scam screen program for people who think they have been contacted by a scammer, which allows people to report suspicious calls or messages and receive help determining if they’re fraudulent. The service is available 24/7 and can be done in person or over the phone, Shafer said.

While enforcement remains difficult — often involving overseas networks — Shafer said prevention starts with individuals recognizing the warning signs and acting quickly.

“We can’t get your money back, but if we can stop the scam, then you never become a victim,” Shafer said.

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