December 2025 Basecamp Newsletter
Financial fraud is on the rise, affecting more individuals and businesses each year. As scammers grow more creative with their methods and tactics, it’s becoming increasingly important to stay informed. Knowing the warning signs and understanding how to protect yourself and your finances can help reduce the risk of falling victim to fraud.
On this episode of Making Sense of Money, we sat down with Brian Erickson, a detective from the Lewiston Police Department for the past 25 years. Over this time, he has worked as a school resource officer and a major crimes detective. Now he focuses on complex fraud investigations. With his experience, it has given him a clear view of how scammers operate and how these crimes have an impact on people in the community.
Common Fraud Trends
One of the most prevalent in the area during this time is the impersonation scam. It starts with someone receiving a phone call from someone representing themselves as law enforcement. They will tell their potential victims that they have missed jury duty, warrants, or fines.
The second fraud trend that has seen a rise in numbers is the sextortion scam. This often starts with someone receiving a letter or email claiming that someone has hacked their computer, threatening them with claims of compromising videos or photos.
Both of these schemes end with a demand for payment through cryptocurrency, a digital form of payments that can include bitcoin or other electronic transactions. With these payment methods being demanded, it makes the transactions difficult to trace.
Cryptocurrency and the Challenges of Law Enforcement
Cryptocurrency has become especially appealing to scammers because it is difficult to trace and allows funds to move instantly across multiple channels and wallets. “It’s what we call pseudo-anonymous, not having to identify themselves with where they’re putting the money," Erickson said. For those who may not fully understand how crypto works, these scams can be more convincing and harder to navigate.
Because scammers often operate overseas, it makes it even more difficult for law enforcement to track or prosecute them. Even with specialized tools, there are still many obstacles they face when it comes to this type of fraud. With the wallet addresses rarely revealing who owns them and the speed of how quickly funds are transferred, investigators have a very short window to follow the money.
Want to learn more about modern fraud and how you can protect yourself? Click below to continue reading.
Making a difference in the LC Valley
On a recent episode of Making Sense of Money, we chat with Sharon Barry, Director at St. Vincent de Paul, the local nonprofit doing vital work in our community. Currently, we’re partnering with their organization during our Season of Giving because we’ve seen firsthand the great work they’re doing. Click below to listen or watch this episode.
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Coming Soon
We're adding another branch to better serve our members throughout the Treasure Valley. Our Eagle Branch is nearly complete and is eyeing an opening early in 2026.
4 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter
The leaves are nearly done falling, and the temperatures have begun to drop. With winter just around the corner, preparing your home for the season is vital. Here are four ways to best prepare and winterize your home.
- Servicing Your Heating and Cooling System
- Sealing the Drafts
- Clean Out Gutters
- Protecting Water Pipes
Want to see why you should do these things? Read the rest of this article by clicking below.
4 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Home For Winter Weather
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