Let’s just add one more thing to 2020- aside from Covid, raging fires, and an election — let’s add these scams to the list! The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has a list of new scams to be aware of during the holidays! Be aware and cautious of these new scams!
Lately, I have been hearing a lot of scams from Craig’s List- multiple people have fallen for the rental scam – either by renting a home or vacation rental property. The red flags are:
you may not be able to see the property because the owner is out of town but they can collect the money via Venmo, bitcoin, money cards or your credit card.
they are the property manager for the property but can’t show you in person
the rent is much lower than expected
you have to fill out an application online before you see the property
The most recent scam event was when 5 different people showed up to the door of someone’s home one evening saying they rented the home for $210 per night and had a contract. The listing on Craig’s List used the property description and pictures from a Air Bnb ad the owners had used in the past and the scammer copied and pasted everything.
I am also hearing the Xcel Energy scam regularly calling residents – saying their electricity will be turned off in 30 minutes if they don’t pay. If you get this call – just hang up. Xcel does not operate that way.
Grandparents scam is active again.
Craig’s List overpay scam is active as well. This is where the buyer offers you more money than you were asking and sends a check to you to deposit. Then you are to give the overage mount to the person that picks up the item. Then the check that they sent turns out to be bogus. If someone offers you more than you asked, it is a scam.
Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fire – If you had damage to your home in these fires, please be aware that the bad actors (scammers) are always looking for vulnerability. If you get a contractor contact you that you didn’t request, be cautious. If you need a contractor – check with Better Business Bureau for reputable and local contractors with references and make the call to them directly. Many of the door to door contractors could be scammers and will take your money and never do the work.
It is not always easy to determine who is legitimate and who is a scammer. It definitely pays to be very cautious and guard your personal information. It is certainly a Buyer Beware world now.
Take care, stay safe, and check out our scam webpage for more information. Visit our website at
Barbara Bennett
Larimer County Sheriff’s Auxiliary/Crime Prevention Unit Coordinator
Threat Liaison Officer (TLO)