General Scams

Red Flags

• If you feel rushed or suspicious, pause. Ask someone you trust for their opinion before doing anything else. 
• Be mindful of messages that have a sense of urgency or emotional amplification.
• You do not have to send money to receive a prize.
• The Social Security Administration and IRS will not call you to confirm your Social Security Number.
• Do not send money or gift cards to someone you have never met.
• If someone asks you to lie about what you are doing, it is probably a scam.
• Never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person.
• If someone you do not know asks you to buy gift cards or wire money, it is probably a scam. 
• People who confess love quickly are normally scammers.

Reporting

If you suspect fraud, file a complaint with the Nevada Attorney General at http://ag.nv.gov/Complaints/File_Complaint or by calling 888-434-9989. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling the FTC's Consumer Response Center at (877-382-4357) or visiting https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#. 

If you suspect someone elderly or vulnerable is being abused, exploited, neglected, or abandoned, call Nevada Adult Protective Services at 888-729-0571.

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, a 501 (c) 3 organization, is established to strengthen communities in our region through leadership and philanthropy. The information provided on this page does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this page are for general informational purposes only.

^{Rev.  November 2021}