‘Canadian letter’ extortion scam hits Wyoming mailboxes, Sheridan police urge caution

Sheridan police are sounding the alarm about a disturbing mail scam that tries to terrorize people into sending money fast — and it’s starting to show up around Wyoming.

Here’s what’s happening: residents are receiving letter-sized envelopes with Canadian postage. Inside is a printed note claiming you “clicked a suspicious link,” that illegal child sexual abuse images were somehow planted on your devices or network, and that the sender will contact law enforcement unless you pay up within 36 hours. The letters often include a QR code or URL directing you to pay via Bitcoin, Coinbase, or Cash App. To ratchet up the fear, the letters may even name your family members.

Sheridan PD says it took a report about the scheme on Monday, Sept. 8, and is now working with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Law enforcement agencies in Natrona County and elsewhere in Wyoming have logged similar complaints in the last 24 hours, suggesting the mailers are part of a broader campaign.

“This scheme is not only about extortion, it weaponizes some of the most serious crimes imaginable,” said Drew Cotton, ICAC Task Force Officer with the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office. “Making a report to law enforcement ensures we can investigate quickly, protect potential victims, and hold offenders accountable.”

Victims and police report the letters share a bunch of identical tells:

• Canadian postal stamp on the envelope.
• Claims you clicked a bad link and hackers gained access.
• Accusation that illegal images were planted on your devices.
• Threats to involve the police if you don’t comply.
• A 36-hour payment deadline.
• QR codes/URLs pushing crypto or app-based payments (Bitcoin, Coinbase, Cash App).
• Mentions of relatives by name to make it feel “real.”
• Arrives as physical mail at your home address.

Scammers pull names, addresses, and even family connections from public records, data broker sites, genealogy pages, and social media to make their threats sound convincing. The tight deadline and crypto-only demand are classic pressure tactics — and a huge red flag.

What to do if you get one

• Do not open it if you haven’t already. If you did, do not scan the QR code or type any link.
• Do not reply to the sender and do not send money — at all, in any form.
• Preserve the envelope and letter (don’t rip it up). Place it in a clean envelope or bag to avoid smudging prints or QR codes that could be evidence.
• Document what you received: snap photos of the outside (postage, return address) and the letter itself without sharing them publicly.
• Report it immediately:
• In Sheridan: 307-672-2413 (Sheridan Police Department)
• Elsewhere in Wyoming: your local law enforcement or DCI Casper Office at 307-261-2194
• If the letter contains or appears to contain illegal imagery, do not share or distribute it — even with friends or online. Possession/redistribution of CSAM is a serious crime; let law enforcement handle it.

What not to do

• Don’t pay. Even one dollar signals you’re a viable target and invites repeat extortion.
• Don’t engage the sender — no emails, texts, calls, or scans.
• Don’t destroy the letter. It could help investigators track the source.
• Don’t try to “prove innocence” by sending screenshots or system access to anyone contacting you about the letter.

The scam blends shame, fear of legal consequences, and urgency. By invoking child exploitation — one of the most serious crimes on the books — criminals aim to short-circuit rational thinking. They also lean on crypto payments to keep themselves hard to trace.

Authorities stress that protecting children and families is the ICAC Task Force’s top priority and that they’re actively working to trace the letters’ origin. Community awareness helps: talk to family, neighbors, and especially older relatives who might be more vulnerable to high-pressure threats.

If a Canadian-stamped letter like this lands in your mailbox, don’t open it — call police. In Sheridan, that’s 307-672-2413. Statewide, you can also call DCI Casper at 307-261-2194. Stay skeptical, stay calm, and let law enforcement do the rest.

With input from Laramie Live, Sheridan Media, Oil City News, and Cowboy State Daily.