Secretary of State Diego Morales Warns Hoosiers of Government Impersonation Scams

Indiana Secretary of State, Diego Morales, has issued a warning to Hoosiers to be on the lookout for various government impersonation scams. Here's what you need to know.

There are so many ways people can get scammed nowadays. You could get a threatening phone call from a scammer, phishing email scams, social media scams, and even text message scams. It's honestly kind of scary, especially for the elderly, who typically fall victim more often. These scammers have gotten very creative throughout the years. It's hard not only to keep up with them, but it has also gotten even harder to decipher what is legitimate and what is a scam.

That's especially true when the scam comes from a real company that everyone in the area uses. Even worse, when it comes from government officials. That's exactly what has been happening recently in Indiana, to the point where the Secretary of State, Diego Morales, had to issue a warning to Hoosiers about these scams.

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Indiana Government Impersonation Scams on the Rise

According to a press release from the Indiana Secretary of State, Diego Morales, the Indiana Securities Division has seen a rise in reports of scammers posing as government employees or agencies, tricking victims into believing their accounts have been hacked or tied to illegal activity. Scammers then pressure victims to move their money—often resulting in devastating financial losses. These government impersonation scams are targeting Indiana residents through email, text, phone, and social media.

Recent cases include:

• An elderly woman who lost over $800,000 after being told her computer contained illegal content and ordered to transfer her savings into cryptocurrency and gold.
• Another Hoosier who lost nearly $2 million after scammers posing as Homeland Security agents convinced him to wire funds and hand over gold bars.

Just to give you more of an idea about what you should be looking out for with these scams, the press release says the scams often follow three steps:

• Tech Support Imposter – A pop-up, text, or email directs victims to call “tech support,” giving scammers access to personal computers and financial accounts. They pretend to run a virus scan on your computer and falsely claim the victim’s computer has been hacked.
• Financial Institution Imposter – Victims are told their accounts are compromised and instructed to transfer money “for safekeeping.” The victim is directed to transfer their money via a wire transfer, cash, crypto ATM transfer, often to overseas recipients.
• Government Imposter – Scammers pose as federal agencies, sometimes using fake letterhead or emails to appear legitimate. The scammer continues to emphasize that the victim’s funds are “unsafe”, and they must be moved to a new “alias” account for protection.

Secretary of State, Diego Morales, says in the press release:

“Scammers are preying on hardworking Hoosiers, stealing their life savings under the guise of protecting their assets. Urgency and secrecy are two of the biggest red flags. If you’re asked to convert cash into cryptocurrency, wire funds, or send gift cards, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. Ask questions and do your homework before handing over your hard-earned money.”

 

How to Avoid Being Scammed

So what can you do to make sure that you don't fall for these scams? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

• The U.S. government will never ask for money through wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
• Do not click on unsolicited pop-ups, links, or attachments.
• Verify before acting—contact the Indiana Securities Division at 317-232-6681 before sending money.

The Office of the Indiana Attorney General also offers these few tips:

• If you think a text might be a scam, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real.

• Blocking or using restricted phone settings is an easy way to stop spam text messages.

• Don’t share any personal information over text. This is not a secure method of communication, and legitimate services won't ask for personal information through text messages.

• Put a freeze on your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name in the event of a breach.

• Don't respond to spam texts. This allows scammers to know your account is active.

• Report text scams. Forward them to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages.

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, file a complaint at www.indianaconsumer.com with Attorney General Rokita’s office.