Fort Collins Police Warn Residents of Five Common Scam Tactics Amid Statewide Fraud Surge
Fort Collins Police Services issued public safety guidance November 1 alerting residents to five common scam types targeting Northern Colorado communities as identity theft and financial fraud continue reaching historic levels across the state.
The police department outlined specific tactics used by fraudsters including identity theft schemes, fake toll road violations, law enforcement impersonation scams, romance and family emergency cons, and phishing attempts targeting financial accounts and passwords.
Colorado residents reported $211 million in losses from financial fraud in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That figure represents a 314 percent increase since 2020, when losses totaled $54 million, according to a report by the Common Sense Institute analyzing federal data.
The sharp escalation coincides with increasingly sophisticated scam operations that exploit personal information from data breaches and target victims through multiple communication channels including text messages, phone calls and email.
Identity Theft and Data Security
Police emphasized that legitimate businesses and agencies never request personal or financial information through unsolicured communications. Identity theft accounted for 874 reports per 100,000 Colorado residents in 2020, ranking the state ninth nationally for per capita identity theft, according to Security.org analysis of federal data.
The median loss per fraud victim in Colorado reached $360 in 2020, with average losses per cybercrime victim totaling $8,167. Colorado ranked eighth nationally in fraud reports per capita and tenth for average loss amounts.
Residents should verify the identity of anyone requesting personal information by independently contacting the organization through official channels rather than responding to unsolicited requests.
Toll Road Scams Target License Plate Data
Fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid toll violations attempt to trick recipients into clicking malicious links that install malware or direct victims to fake payment portals, according to police. The scams often reference E-470 or ExpressToll, which operate toll roads in the Denver metro area.
Legitimate toll authorities including E-470 Public Highway Authority and ExpressToll send billing notifications only through postal mail or to customers who specifically opted into electronic notifications. Officials never demand immediate payment or threaten arrest through text messages.
Residents who receive suspicious toll violation messages should block the sender and verify any claimed violations by visiting expresstoll.com directly or calling ExpressToll customer service at 303-537-3470. Clicking links in unsolicited messages can compromise devices and personal data.
Law Enforcement Impersonation Tactics
Scammers posing as police officers or court officials contact victims claiming outstanding warrants or unpaid fines require immediate payment to avoid arrest. The fraudsters demand payment through gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
Legitimate law enforcement agencies never call, text or email to demand payment for warrants or legal matters. Court proceedings follow formal notification procedures through certified mail and official court documents.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation manages a specialized Identity Theft/Fraud and Cyber Crimes Unit that investigates major fraud cases. Identity theft is criminalized under Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-5-902, while criminal impersonation falls under Section 18-5-113.
Romance and Family Emergency Scams
Imposter scams involve fraudsters posing as romantic interests or family members in crisis situations requesting money. Some perpetrators threaten to release explicit images unless victims send payments.
Police advised ending all contact immediately with suspicious individuals and verifying any emergency claims through direct contact with trusted family members using known phone numbers. Median losses from imposter scams nationally reach $1,000 per victim, according to FTC data.
Older Colorado residents bore 42 percent of all fraud losses in 2024, up from 26 percent in 2020, according to the Common Sense Institute report analyzing state fraud trends. The demographic shift reflects increasingly sophisticated targeting of seniors through multiple scam types.
Network Intrusion and Credential Theft
Criminals claiming to represent technical support services contact victims asserting their accounts have been compromised and request login credentials or financial information. Legitimate technology companies and financial institutions never request passwords or account credentials through unsolicited communications.
Network intrusion scams can result in losses exceeding $90,000 per incident for sophisticated attacks, with Colorado mirroring national trends for business email compromise and similar schemes.
Colorado computer crimes fall under Revised Statutes Section 18-5.5-102. Major cybercrime investigations may involve federal prosecutors and the FBI when cases cross state or international boundaries.
Reporting and Prevention Resources
Residents who encounter suspected scams should report incidents to Fort Collins Police Services and file complaints with the Colorado Attorney General's Office consumer protection portal. The Attorney General manages investigations of fraudulent business practices and publishes regular scam alerts.
The FTC maintains IdentityTheft.gov for official fraud reporting and identity theft recovery planning. Colorado authorities recommend placing fraud alerts or credit freezes with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion following suspected identity compromise.
Between 2022 and 2024, Colorado residents filed 75,119 fraud reports with state and federal agencies, according to Colorado Department of Public Safety data cited in the Common Sense Institute analysis.
Contact Fort Collins Police Services at 970-221-6540 for non-emergency assistance or to report suspected fraud activity.