Denver cautions residents to be aware of cybersecurity scams

Denver cautions residents to be aware of cybersecurity scams

Published on January 19, 2025

DENVER - Denver's Department of Technology Services is issuing a public warning about the increasing prevalence of cybersecurity scams that appear to have come from the City and County of Denver. These scams, which can take many forms, aim to steal personal or financial information.

The city is aware that some residents have received a text message this weekend that appears to have come from the City and County of Denver, with the city's logo, and the subject being about an unpaid parking invoice. We can confirm that the City and County of Denver did not send this text but want to use this opportunity to remind residents to be aware of cybersecurity scams.

"Governments are a frequent target for bad actors, and we are tracking other municipalities that are also seeing similar phishing attacks," said Merlin Namuth, Denver's Chief Information Security Officer. "As a city, we are always vigilant to these types of attacks."

Some tips to help protect yourself include:

• Be cautious of suspicious emails, texts, and calls - especially ones that express a sense of urgency or pressure.
• Make sure to check the sender's email address and all URLs to ensure that the communication is coming from the city: denvergov.org.
• Never click on links or open attachments from unknown senders. If you are unsure if the sender is from the city, call 311.
• Be cautious of unsolicited offers, donations, or requests for personal information.
• Use strong, unique passwords for all online accounts.
• Be mindful of what information you share online.
• Report suspected scams to the appropriate authorities.

The City and County of Denver partners with the national coordinator for critical infrastructure and resilience, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). If you need further information on cyber security protection, view CISA's blog post on avoiding social engineering and phishing attacks.

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Denver Technology Services (TS) is the City and County of Denver's central information technology department. TS provides technology infrastructure, development, support, and solutions to all city departments and operations.

• Technology Services