Fake NextDoor Site Tried To Solicit Fines In Colorado

BOULDER, CO -- Two attempts were made by internet fraudsters to create spoof sites for Boulder County on the social media site Nextdoor.com, the Boulder County Sheriff's office said.

Officials from Nextdoor contacted the sheriff's office saying someone identifying themselves as a“lieutenant with the sheriff’s office" had tried to gain access to the Boulder County sheriff's account, a press release from the sheriff's office said.

A second fraud was attempted a few days later, when the manager of Boulder County’s Nextdoor account was notified of an attempt to start a new Nextdoor account by a person with a different name claiming to be a “dispatch supervisor” working for Boulder County, a press release said.

"This second attempt included information about a website the person(s) claimed to be in development, which had a banner on the website saying they were, “Managing incidents, emergencies, and notifying the public to ensure safety.” Their email and website also said it was a place where residents could “pay fines.”

"The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the attempt by this person(s) to impersonate a peace officer, and likely attempt to conduct a scam that would have Boulder County residents paying fines, real or fake, via their website," a press release said.

The only legitimate websites that are associated with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County, or the Boulder Office of Emergency Management are:

• www.bouldersheriff.org
• www.bouldercounty.org
• www.boulderoem.com
• www.governmentjobs.com (job postings and applications)

In addition, Boulder County accepts online payments of traffic tickets, civil service, records payments, but they are only through the State of Colorado pay portal: www.colorado.gov.

This is a good reminder that scam artists are using sophisticated techniques to scam and commit fraudulent activities. Residents are urged to always stay vigilant when they are contacted by a person who claims to be from law enforcement or another government agency, and they are requesting payment for fines, tickets, missing jury duty, past due taxes, etc., especially if they are threatening arrest, demanding immediate payment over the phone or via gift cards, or requesting personal identifying information. These are almost all likely scams or attempts at some type of fraudulent activity. You are encouraged to directly contact the agency they said they are from by looking up the contact information yourself, and not using a phone number or website they give you.

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