Consumer Fraud & Scams Resources

Consumers Need Law Enforcement to Stop Criminals Engaged in Fraud & Scams

 

Technology is always changing, and criminals are always looking for ways to exploit the latest tools. From phone calls and texts by criminals impersonating law enforcement to unscrupulous actors on online marketplaces, scammers are using sophisticated tactics to dupe and deceive innocent people, stealing their money.

 

Examples of these scams are far too abundant and happen across the country, targeting everyone. The Washington Post tells the story of one 80-year-old woman scammed by a criminal pretending to be local law enforcement. Adding to the challenge facing law enforcement, more and more of these scams are originating overseas from international criminal and human trafficking groups.

 

Law enforcement at all levels must always adapt and stay one step ahead of them. This webpage will serve as a resource for law enforcement, providing up-to-date information on how to spot a scam and protect their communities.

 

“As sheriffs, our job is not only to enforce the law but, ideally, to deter and prevent crime before it happens. One of the best ways that we can do that is through education. We need to educate the people we serve. While financial institutions generally have good warning systems in place, sometimes people do not heed these warnings… Sometimes people need to hear warnings from law enforcement directly. That is why it is incumbent on us to use our platforms to warn people about this very real threat.”
— Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald, Story County, Iowa

Resources:

  • National Sheriffs’ Association DRAFT resolution

THE NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES FROM ONLINE SCAMS will be available July 2025

In the News: