A warning is being issued for anyone out there receiving letters that appear to be from several agencies of the United States Federal Government. If the letters are asking for money or saying your identity has been compromised and also requesting cash or even gold, it’s probably a scam, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
A deputy prosecutor who spoke to KIRO 7 says the scams have already drained millions of dollars from Washington residents. He also said the letters are becoming more widespread.
Patrick Hinds, Chief Deputy for Economic Crimes and Wage Theft, says these scams can come via email, instant messages, pop-up windows, even letters and phone calls. But he says the computer seems common as people work on their laptop, get a message and link to a real-looking letter from the U.S. Social Security Administration or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Hinds stresses that agencies like the SSA or FDIC, or even the IRS are not generally texting or emailing as correspondence; it’s the first of many red flags.
A Clallam County man spoke to KIRO 7 over the phone, provided we shielded his identity, but he admitted to falling for the scam, and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office says he was not alone ― several people fell for the scam.
He went by the initials GC and admitted the letters and correspondence looked real.
“They talk to you under the guise of being a government official ... and in my particular case, they said my Social Security number had been compromised,” GC said.
He says he lost a large sum and feels embarrassed, but also feels he’s proof that these scams are effective.
Clallam County Undersheriff Lorraine Shore shared info with KIRO 7. She says in the first few months of 2025, scammers stole more than $1,000,000 from three Clallam County residents.
She said investigations resulted in arrests, but also the discovery of more victims in Jefferson County and across Washington and Oregon.
G.C. said one of the first requests, as the scam progressed, was a warning sign for him.
“One of the first things they do is they will have you agree to electronically sign an NDA (Non-disclosure Agreement),” he said.
Hinds says the scam starts simply, but becomes elaborate.
“The scam, in a nutshell, starts with someone getting some sort of initial communication, whether it’s a pop-up on a screen or a text an email,” said Hinds.
He says the all-too-real-looking letters are going out statewide, and adds that dozens of victims thought their identities had been stolen. He says scammers will push victims with urgent, specific action, which are all red flags.
“They [victims] need to withdraw large amounts of cash… it does not make sense that a government agency would contact you in the form of a pop-up on your computer or that they would tell you that you need to withdraw all your money and use it to buy gold," he said.
Clallam County Undersheriff Shore said there are steps people can take to protect themselves, including:
• Do not engage with unexpected callers claiming to be from government agencies or large companies
• Never provide cash, gift cards, or gold to strangers or so-called “agents”
• Do not allow remote access to your computer unless you initiated the service through a verified provider
• Always verify the identity of anyone asking for money by calling your bank, the Social Security Administration, or law enforcement directly
GC admits the secrecy around any interactions with the would-be scammers can also signal something is not right.
Hinds highlighted another red flag: demands that you use a non-sanctioned temporary courier to transport your cash or gold, which no Federal agency would ever do.
Law enforcement tells us they do want to hear from people who are getting these letters, so they can find whoever is behind them.
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