(MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo.) — The Manitou Springs Police Department (MSPD) is alerting the public to a scam that a Manitou Springs resident recently fell victim to and lost hundreds of dollars.

According to MSPD, the victim agreed to sell an item on Facebook Marketplace, and the supposed buyer claimed to have an issue sending a Venmo payment. The alleged scammer provided the seller with a fake screenshot suggesting the seller needed to take action. The scammer then requested the seller’s email and sent a fake message, apparently from Venmo support, instructing the seller to send a payment to “expand” their account.

The seller, believing the request to be legitimate, lost hundreds of dollars in the scam.

MSPD is urging the community to remain cautious when conducting online transactions:

Never share personal email or financial information with unknown buyers.

Be wary of messages claiming payment issues that require additional steps.

Verify all transactions directly through the official Venmo app, never through email.

Stop communication immediately and report the incident to Venmo and your financial institution if fraud is suspected.

If you believe you have been targeted by a similar scam, you are encouraged to report the incident to MSPD by calling (719) 390-5555.