The Nebraska State Patrol has received several reports of scammers impersonating State of Nebraska officials in recent weeks and they are urging everyone to use caution when communicating online.
The NSP says one victim has reported losing $5,000 in crypto currency because of the scam. “The fraudulent scheme typically originates with a look-alike social media profile for a government official,” says patrol spokesman Cody Thomas.
“When the scammers establish communication with a victim, the malicious actors typically move the victim to a different communication platform, such as a messaging application. The scammer then attempts to convince the victim of an authentic and secretive agreement by initiating conversations that appear to be with the state official.”
The reported fraudulent schemes have promised a variety of perks, including secretive financial grants totaling $500,000, requiring a down payment to receive financial transactions approved by government official and secretive job offers.
“The State of Nebraska does not use social media sites or messaging applications to exchange sensitive financial or potential employment information with individuals,” Thomas says. Anyone who has been contacted or is still in contact with a someone claiming to offer a variety of perks should hang up.
“Never provide financial resources or financial information to malicious actors,” Thomas says. If financial information has been provided, immediately contact your bank and ensure your accounts are secure.