Sheridan police warn of ‘tap-to-pay’ fraud scheme

SHERIDAN — A new method of credit card fraud is impacting Sheridan residents, prompting the Sheridan Police Department to encourage victims to report fraudulent transactions even if their banks have already reimbursed them.

The scheme, known as “tap-to-pay” fraud, allows criminals to make purchases using stolen credit card information without possessing the physical card.

According to SPD Officer Elizabeth Shafer, the fraud typically begins with a phishing attempt, often through deceptive text messages or emails asking individuals to provide credit card information.

Messages may appear to come from delivery services, charitable organizations or other legitimate businesses. Once a victim enters their financial information, scammers can use the stolen card details to make fraudulent transactions.

Shafer explained that criminals can use specialized technology to transfer stolen payment information between devices, allowing individuals in the U.S. to make contactless purchases using compromised cards.

She noted the process can involve overseas operations that collect stolen financial information and use software to relay payment credentials to other devices.

Shafer said the department has encountered multiple instances of the scheme locally, including an active investigation that has been referred to a federal agency.

“It absolutely has,” Shafer said when asked whether the fraud was occurring in Sheridan. “I cannot talk too much about it, but there was an active case that has been sent to a federal agency.”

While Shafer could not share additional details about the investigation, she confirmed fraudulent purchases involving Sheridan-area credit cards have occurred elsewhere in Wyoming, including Casper.

She said individuals involved in the schemes have attempted to spend between $700 and $1,400 at individual businesses, sometimes visiting multiple stores using the same stolen card.

Shafer said many victims never report the incidents to law enforcement because their financial institutions reimburse the stolen money.

However, she emphasized that reimbursement does not eliminate the financial consequences of the crime or the need for an investigation.

“People just aren't reporting it because they get their money back and they're done, which, to be fair, I understand that,” Shafer said. “But I need people to come forward. I really do.”

She said most financial institutions ultimately absorb the loss when fraudulent transactions are reimbursed to the victim, making cooperation between banks, customers and law enforcement important.

Reporting the incidents can also help investigators identify patterns, determine where fraudulent purchases occurred and potentially identify suspects.

“Please report it to the local police department,” Shafer said. “We will write it up and…federal agencies are investigating this.”

Shafer said victims do not necessarily need to visit the police department in person to file a report. They can contact the department by phone and provide information about the fraudulent transactions.

Depending on where the purchases occurred, the information may then be forwarded to another law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, Shafer said.

While tap-to-pay fraud has become a concern, Shafer said the department is also monitoring other sophisticated financial scams, including business email compromise.

In these schemes, criminals gain unauthorized access to legitimate email accounts and monitor communications without immediately alerting the account owner. Scammers can then use the compromised accounts to send deceptive messages that appear to originate from trusted individuals or businesses.

Shafer said criminals may also include fake links designed to give them remote access to another person's computer.

Beyond investigating financial crimes, Shafer said the SPD is working to educate the community about emerging fraud techniques. The department offers presentations to local businesses, schools, churches and community organizations interested in learning how to recognize and prevent scams. Shafer said she has been giving presentations to financial institutions and hopes to expand those efforts to other groups throughout Sheridan.

“If you have a group of people that want to learn about fraud, I will talk about it,” she said.

She encouraged residents to avoid clicking suspicious links in text messages or emails and to never provide credit card information through unsolicited messages.

Most importantly, Shafer emphasized victims should notify law enforcement regardless of whether their financial losses have been recovered.

“I know that you've been made whole, but we still need to catch the guys doing this,” she said.

CyberWyoming Alliance Cybersecurity Engagement Manager and Business Counselor Natalie Demple recently discussed how scammers can use fear tactics to coerce victims.

“Attackers rely on urgency, impersonation, and trust to manipulate their targets, whether posing as a company, government agency, employer, or community leader. The safest response is to pause and verify before taking any action,” Demple said.

The CyberWyoming Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization based in Laramie with a mission to increase cybersecurity awareness, education and outreach in communities across the state of Wyoming.

Shafer continues to urge residents to use their instincts if they suspect something is wrong and to act quickly.

“If you get a call from an unknown number or a text message, you need to think… this might be a scam,” Shafer said. “Stop talking to the scammer. Hang up the phone. The longer you stay on the phone with a scammer, the more likely you are to be scammed.”

This story was published on Nov. 9, 2026. 

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