US Attorney’s Office Hit by Impersonation Scam

US Attorney’s Office in Nebraska Hit by Impersonation Scam

US Attorney Susan Lehr in Nebraska is warning citizens about a brazen impersonation scam that’s using her name and title to try and defraud victims via email.

According to Lehr, the US Attorney’s Office in Nebraska received several calls on May 15, 2024, from concerned citizens who received emails purporting to be from Lehr. The emails demanded payment to the US Attorney’s Office, but Lehr’s office quickly determined it was a scam.

Lehr’s office directed the victims to report the scam to the FBI Tip Line at www.ic3.gov and the FTC Fraud Line at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/. Fortunately, none of the callers suffered a financial loss related to the scam.

“We are grateful to the citizens who brought this to our attention and that no one suffered any loss in this scheme,” Lehr said. “I would encourage the public to continue to exercise their due diligence when solicited for funds by emails or phone to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.”

Lehr warned that scammers are experts at manipulation and can carry out various phone or email scams with unsuspecting victims. In this case, they posed as a US government official.

In a statement, Lehr said, “the only time the U.S. Attorney’s Office is involved in the collection of money is for restitution purposes in a criminal case after a judicial finding.”

Lehr also provided tips on how to avoid government impersonation scams, which include checking the list of real federal agencies at usa.gov and looking up the real number for the government agency or office the caller mentioned to contact them directly.

If you receive an email demanding payment to the US Attorney’s Office, do not open any attachments or respond providing any personal information. Submit a report to the FBI at www.ic3.gov and https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ immediately.

Grimy Times urges citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. Stay safe and stay informed.