Sheridan Police Department officials are warning residents that a new form of credit‑card fraud, known as “tap‑to‑pay” fraud, is affecting consumers across the state, including Sheridan and nearby Casper. According to the Buffalo Bulletin, the scheme allows criminals to make contactless purchases using stolen card information without ever possessing the physical card.
Officer Elizabeth Shafer explained that the fraud typically begins with a phishing attempt—deceptive text messages or emails that appear to come from delivery services, charitable organizations, or other legitimate businesses. When recipients enter their credit‑card details, scammers capture the data and use specialized technology to relay the credentials to devices in the United States, where the stolen information can be used for contactless transactions. Shafer noted that overseas operators often collect the stolen data before it is transmitted to U.S. devices.
Local investigators have documented multiple incidents in which stolen cards were used to make purchases ranging from $700 to $1,400 at individual businesses, sometimes across several stores with the same compromised card. While many victims do not report the crimes because their banks reimburse the losses, Shafer emphasized that reimbursement does not eliminate the broader financial impact or the need for law‑enforcement involvement. “People just aren’t reporting it because they get their money back and they’re done, which, to be fair, I understand that,” she said, adding, “But I need people to come forward. I really do.”
The department has referred at least one active investigation to a federal agency, though details remain confidential. Shafer encouraged anyone who suspects they have been targeted to file a report by phone; a physical visit to the police station is not required. Reports are documented and, when appropriate, forwarded to the agency with jurisdiction over the fraudulent purchases.
In addition to tap‑to‑pay fraud, the SPD is monitoring other sophisticated scams, such as business email compromise, where criminals gain unauthorized access to legitimate email accounts and send deceptive messages that appear to originate from trusted contacts. These schemes may also include malicious links designed to grant remote access to a victim’s computer.
To combat these threats, the department offers educational presentations to local businesses, schools, churches, and community groups. Shafer said she has already spoken to several financial institutions and hopes to expand outreach throughout Sheridan. “If you have a group of people that want to learn about fraud, I will talk about it,” she offered.
CyberWyoming Alliance cybersecurity engagement manager Natalie Demple reinforced the police message, warning that scammers rely on urgency, impersonation, and trust to manipulate targets. “The safest response is to pause and verify before taking any action,” Demple said.
Residents are urged to avoid clicking suspicious links, never provide credit‑card information in unsolicited messages, and to hang up immediately if they receive an unexpected call. Even if a victim’s account has been restored, reporting the incident helps investigators identify patterns, locate where fraudulent purchases occurred, and potentially apprehend the perpetrators.
What’s next: Sheridan Police ask anyone who has received a suspicious text, email, or call, or who notices unauthorized credit‑card activity, to contact the department. Ongoing community education sessions will be announced on the department’s website and social‑media channels.
Sources: buffalobulletin.com
