In an eye-opening interview on SVI Radio, Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson addressed the alarming prevalence of scams affecting residents. Wyoming ranks among the worst states per capita for these fraudulent activities, and Sheriff Johnson emphasized that the issue is widespread, stating, “But the reality is, it’s a huge problem everywhere. The people committing these scams are successful.”

Sheriff Johnson highlighted that many scams result in money being funneled overseas, leaving local authorities with limited resources to combat the issue. He urged residents to report any suspicious activities to federal agencies like the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which serves as a clearinghouse for fraud-related reports.

In the past two weeks alone, several scams have surfaced in Lincoln County. One prevalent scheme involves text messages falsely alerting individuals of citations or tickets they never received. “If you get a text about a citation, just delete it and report it,” Johnson advised.

Another common scam involves fraudulent claims regarding unpaid tolls, with scammers posing as representatives from the IRS. Sheriff Johnson noted, “If you get a call claiming you owe money, the best thing to do is hang up and report it.” He assured residents that the sheriff’s department would attempt to have these deceptive phone numbers discontinued.

Scammers have also become increasingly savvy, utilizing local area codes to make their calls appear legitimate. “They have ways to make it look like it’s coming from a 307 number,” Johnson warned. He encouraged anyone receiving suspicious communication—be it a call, text, or email—to reach out to the sheriff’s department before responding or clicking on any links.

Sheriff Johnson stressed the importance of vigilance, noting that impersonation of sheriff’s department staff has occurred in the past. “They will do anything to get money, information, or your passwords,” he said.

For residents uncertain about the legitimacy of a communication, the sheriff’s office is just a phone call away. “If you have any questions about it, just call us,” Johnson urged.