A Carson City resident lost approximately $145,000 through fraudulent withdrawals from a bank account in one of 20 fraud reports received by the Carson City Sheriff's Office in September, highlighting how costly scams can become when criminals gain access to people's money.
The reports involved several types of fraud, including scammers posing as financial institutions, law enforcement officers, and service providers to pressure people into sending money. Other cases involved unauthorized credit card transactions, compromised accounts, and suspected card skimming.
Authorities say scammers often try to create a sense of urgency, pushing people to transfer money before they have time to verify a request. The Sheriff's Office said reported scams involved payments through bank transfers, gift cards, and Bitcoin.
Residents should be cautious about unsolicited calls requesting personal or financial information. The Sheriff's Office advises people to contact the organization directly to verify suspicious requests rather than relying on contact information provided by the caller.
Legitimate agencies will not demand immediate payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, the office said.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud can contact the Carson City Sheriff's Office at (775) 887-2020, Carson City Dispatch's nonemergency line at (775) 887-2008, or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.
The Sheriff's Office says it plans to publish monthly alerts outlining scam trends and reported financial losses.
