At least two residents have received fraudulent letters in the mail requesting payment
PITKIN COUNTY, COLO. (April 18, 2024) - The Pitkin County Clerk and Recorder’s Office was made aware this week of a fraudulent mailed letter that targets homeowners in Pitkin County. The predatory letter appears to be mailed from Pitkin County Public Lien Records, and falsely warns homeowners their assets and property could be seized if a payment isn’t made. The letter also falsely claims the recipient may be subject to an investigation by “Federal Tax Authorities.” At least two property owners – one in Snowmass Village and another in Aspen – have been targeted and it’s likely other local residents could receive similar letters.
How to spot mail fraud
The Colorado Attorney General's Office and the Consumer Protection Section of the Colorado Dept. of Law say scam mail is like other types of scams: they are often riddled with bad grammar, vague writing, and almost always emphasize an urgent need to contact the scammers immediately.
Unsolicited correspondence, claims of issues with your home or mortgage, and offers that are too good to be true are other red flags.
A government imposter scam, like this one, is when fraudsters pretend to work for the government and use that false authority to trick you out of your money. If someone contacts you claiming to be with the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, the state, a local government, or even law enforcement, you should be skeptical. Learn more about government imposter scams on stopfraudcolorado.gov.
Report suspicious activity
If you think you have received a suspicious letter, please contact the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center at (970) 920-5310.