Officials Warn of Nationwide Government-Impersonation Scams

Law enforcement and state officials nationwide are warning of a surge in impersonation and extortion scams that exploit fears about government actions, jail releases, and personal privacy. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned scammers may target beneficiaries worried about a potential federal shutdown with phony calls, texts or emails, and officials said the Federal Trade Commission will not handle fraud complaints during a shutdown. Multiple local agencies — including Hernando Police, Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, and the San Diego Sheriff’s Office — reported callers impersonating officers or jail staff demanding money or threatening arrest and advised hanging up, not sharing personal or financial data, and verifying claims through official numbers; governments will not demand payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Snohomish County and Arlington police warned of scams that use jail inmate registries to solicit bail payments via Zelle or Venmo, a tactic that can particularly prey on domestic-violence victims. In Butte, authorities are investigating explicit extortion letters claiming illicit content on recipients’ devices that demand $2,500 in Bitcoin (possibly mailed from Canada) and urged recipients to preserve the mail and report it to law enforcement; officials broadly advised not to click links, send money, or provide personal information and to confirm claims directly with agency websites or phone numbers.