Fake federal agents swindle Manhattan resident out of $1,250

MANHATTAN, Kan. — An 87-year-old Manhattan man became the latest victim of an impersonation scam when fraudsters posing as federal agents threatened to close his bank account unless he paid them immediately, authorities said.

Riley County police said the man was conned out of $1,250 in the scam, reported around 3:11 p.m. Friday in the 1000 block of Westloop Place. Unknown individuals contacted the victim and falsely identified themselves as federal agents, threatening account closure to pressure him into sending money.

The incident reflects a troubling trend sweeping Kansas, where scams have become increasingly sophisticated and are targeting residents through phone calls, emails, text messages and even artificial intelligence voice cloning, according to law enforcement officials.

"These scammers are highly trained and very good at what they do," said Ed Burr, an investigator with the Kansas Attorney General's Office. "Their goal is to make you act quickly and emotionally before you have time to think."

Authorities across Kansas are seeing a surge in common fraud schemes. Federal impersonation scams represent a significant portion of reported fraud, with authorities noting that scammers frequently pose as agents from the IRS, FBI or other government agencies to demand payment or personal information.

Other prevalent scams plaguing Kansas residents include romance scams, in which fraudsters build emotional connections over time to gain trust before requesting money; gift card schemes targeting the elderly and the kindhearted; and rental property fraud, where scammers post fake listings on online marketplaces using stolen photos from legitimate properties.

The Better Business Bureau warns that invoice scams have become one of the top fraud schemes as businesses approach budget season. The scams target companies with official-looking PDF invoices that are difficult to distinguish from legitimate bills.

Scammers often employ spoofing techniques, using software to make their phone numbers appear as local calls or replicating area codes and phone prefixes familiar to potential victims. They typically exploit emotion and create artificial urgency to bypass a victim's natural caution.

"Scammers prey on trust and emotion," Burr said. "Education and awareness are the best tools we have to stop them."

Law enforcement officials recommend that residents verify credentials before sharing information or sending money, avoid making decisions under pressure, and never provide personal information to unsolicited callers. Legitimate federal agencies, including the IRS and FBI, do not threaten to close bank accounts or demand immediate payment over the phone.

Residents are urged to use secure payment methods such as credit cards rather than wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment apps. Multi-factor authentication adds extra security to accounts, making it more difficult for scammers to gain access with stolen passwords.

Anyone with information regarding the Manhattan scam is encouraged to call Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777. To report scams, residents can contact the Kansas Attorney General's Office or the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.