(Fremont County, WY) – The Riverton Police Department recently addressed the rise in a number of scams and fake profiles/news items circulating in Fremont County, and have advised residents to be wary.
The first of these scam items is the “Breaking News – Body Cam” CLICK-HERE TO WATCH POLICE VIDEO” video links often shared in Facebook comments on any post involving law enforcement. These links “can compromise your Facebook passwords if you click on it,” RPD advises.
“The Police Department would NOT post any videos on our social media,” RPD’s post shares.
(These video links are also frequently shared on news sites like County 10 on any posts relating to law enforcement or tragedy. We also advise that you do not click on these links, and know that we will never share videos in the comments of a post. This article will most likely have Facebook comments with video links like these.)
RPD goes on to address recent unconfirmed accounts of ICE raids and RPD “checking Native’s IDs.”
“Recent national news regarding border policies has stirred up concerns locally. To clarify, the Riverton Police Department has NOT been working with ICE. Facebook rumors of local officers checking migrant status of children walking to school (are) false. Our officers will only verify (the) identity of people suspected of violating state and local laws (Shoplifting, Domestic Violence, drunk-driving, speeding etc).”
In terms of local scams, County 10 also recently chatted with a resident who received a call from someone claiming to be from Rocky Mountain Power, threatening to turn off the power to their business. The scammer told the individual they had to go to Walgreens to pay them back at an ATM if they wanted the quickest way to make sure the power wasn’t turned off. Upon realizing the call was a scam, the individual hung up the phone, only to have the scammer immediately call them back and threaten to turn off the power “right now” if they didn’t comply. The individual did not comply, and their power stayed on.
There are also fake posts circulating on Facebook involving RPD and other local law agencies, one of which states that RPD officers are “searching for a couple suspected of knocking on doors and murdering people in Riverton, Wyoming. “There are no such incidents occurring,” RPD asserts.
Another one of these fake posts states that officers are “looking for parents of a toddler walking the streets in Riverton.”
“We do not have a child in our custody who was reported to be wearing a diaper and found walking the streets,” the RPD warning continues.
“There have been several Facebook postings depicting two officers in a uniform and holding a child (pictured in the featured image above). These are not Riverton Officers and many police agencies have had their departments named in these fake pictures/news.”
Additionally, RPD has reported that “Many people have received a text message saying they need to send money for violating one of our local toll roads.”
RPD reminds that “There are no toll roads in Riverton and this is also a scam to get your money.”
“Real toll road violations are required to send the registered owner a photograph of the toll road violator along with the bridge/toll way which the vehicle allegedly crossed without paying. Unless you have your cell phone number on your front windshield, the toll roads would NOT have your cell number. Unfortunately some people do a lot of traveling and end up paying the scammer with an on-line banking app without checking into the violation.”
RPD concludes the warning by reminding residents that “Official Postings will be on our Facebook Page or TextMyGov app.”