scams

MINDEN — Douglas County residents continue to receive scam phone calls about missed court dates and jury duties that has resulted in two residents being scammed out of more than $5,000 each, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Local law enforcement agencies are warning of a telephone fraud operation where the scammers are identifying themselves as law officers, telling citizens they face going to jail due to missed court dates and then asking for credit card numbers to pay fines.

I’m still looking for some springtime, and these next sunny few days might just do the trick. Take a break from the workweek with something fun. Grab some friends or your favorite date and enjoy Ev Musselman on stage at the Max Casino or a Jazz Jam with Rocky and Judith at Living the Good Life. For classic movie lovers, you can catch ‘All About Eve’ at the Galaxy Theater. Learn something new about scams, how to avoid them, and your rights at the Consumer Fraud Prevention Fair at the Adam’s Hub.

WEDNESDAY:

• International Women’s Day

On Wednesday, March 15, members of the Carson City Leisure Hour Club will learn more about how scams are targeting Americans in person, on the telephone and, increasingly, on the Internet. Presenter Lora E. Myles, Esq., will address a variety of these issues and provide advice on how to "avoid being taken."

CARSON CITY — Chances are, you have been a target of a scam, or know of someone that has been caught up in a scheme that has resulted in financial loss and the stress of being victimized. There is no shortage of predators looking to make an easy buck off of unsuspecting consumers. And while some fraud attempts are obvious, others can be cleverly disguised and can look like legitimate offers.

Nevada Consumer Affairs is hosting a free Consumer Fraud Prevention Fair in Carson City on March 8 at The Studio at Adams Hub, 111 W. Proctor Street. The fair will provide information and resources in the areas of consumer rights, how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud and one-on-one assistance for consumers that need help resolving complaints involving fraud or a deceptive business practice.

Admission is free and open to all members of the public.

Carson City Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the community of some on-going scams and frauds that occur on a regular basis. Too often we are seeing people lose money and personal information to scams. With the technology that is out there, the bad guys can hide anywhere.

Maria Leslie was another victim of an internet scam. She suffered a theft loss of $405,000. She was involved in getting a divorce and a friend she trusted completely urged she send money to get a “large shipment of diamonds” from Africa.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office will continue its Citizens Safe Zone program on Saturdays through 2016, officials announced Wednesday.

The program began last year. It is designed for Carson City citizens and residents of surrounding areas to exchange merchandise purchased from one another either through Craigslist, classified ads or private party sales.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Volunteers in Police Service unit continues to offer a safe venue for the public to carry out private party sales transactions.

Every Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. volunteers are on-hand at the Sheriff’s Office, 911 East Musser Street, to provide a safe environment for private party sales.

In this week's edition of It's Your City, host Cortney Bloomer talks with Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong. Among the topics discussed include phone scams, those who perpetrate and prey on innocent people and ways to not become a victim. Also noteworthy is that April is Domestic Violence Awareness month.

We are now 100 days into the year 2015; where does the time go? Hopefully, with help from my list, you've spent it exploring the food, drink, music, theater, art, museums, and outdoor fun stuff that Carson City has to offer. Let me tell you, there’s plenty of fun to come! Tonight, you can check out Mo’z Motley Blues at the Brewery Arts Center or the Whitehats at Westside Pour House. It’s also opening night for the kids of Youth Theater Carson City: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at the Community Center at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY:

• Carson School District Spring Break
• CCAI Exhibit: BRIC Art 5 at the BRIC: 108 E Proctor Street (8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm)
• ’Second Skin’ by artist Sarah Lillegard at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)

Sheriff Ken Furlong will be speaking at the Carson City Senior Citizens Center on phone scams including signs of a scam, how they hook you, why they are calling and what to do about pre-recorded calls.
The discussion will be Friday, April 10, 2015 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM in the Dining Room. The Carson City Senior Citizens Center is located at 911 Beverly Drive.
For further information, please contact the Center at 883-0703.

It is tax season and the scammers are using that as a reason to take your money from you. The Carson City Sheriff’s Office has had a sharp increase of citizens receiving phone calls from someone claiming to be with the IRS.

The persons placing those phone calls are telling people they are collecting for money owed to the IRS. In another twist the callers are saying they are from the U.S. Treasury and that it is in regard to an action to appear before a magistrate.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Volunteers in Police Service unit will begin offering a safe venue for the public to carry out private party sales transactions, beginning March 21, 2015. Volunteers will be on-hand at the Sheriff’s Office, 911 East Musser Street, on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide a safe environment for private party sales.

The Federal Trade Commission say scams against the elderly are increasing. You have heard about the telephone calls “your grandchild is in trouble, send money now” that are not true.

But it is not only the telephone scams of various types to be concerned about. Family members account for nearly 60 percent of the cases of senior financial exploitation. Friends, neighbors and paid home care aides also can be involved in scams.

The Federal Trade Commission say scams against the elderly are increasing. You have heard about the telephone calls “your grandchild is in trouble, send money now” that are not true.

But it is not only the telephone scams of various types to be concerned about. Family members account for nearly 60 percent of the cases of senior financial exploitation. Friends, neighbors and paid home care aides also can be involved in scams.

With the holiday season here the Carson City Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the community of some precautions that will reduce the chances of becoming a victim. While many of us will be shopping for the best deal on Christmas presents criminals are planning ways of how to take advantage of us while we are distracted. Many of the tips provided involve common sense and can be practiced year round.

We are a very generous community and can fall victim to several scams that are ongoing, not just in Carson City but across the nation.

Since October 2004 National Cyber Security Awareness Month, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, reminds citizens of the importance of protecting not only individual identities, finances and privacy but also our country’s national security, critical infrastructure and economy. Cyber security is a responsibility shared by all — the public sector, the private sector, and the general public.

The IRS has discovered false claims for child tax credits for returns filed by U.S. citizens that live in Israel. It may involve tens of millions of dollars.

The child tax credit can be $1,000 for each child who is not age 17 at the end of the year. The child must be either a U.S. citizen, national or resident of the U.S. The credit begins to phase out when the taxpayers (parents) modified adjusted gross income in 2013 reaches $110,000 for joint returns and $75,000 for single taxpayers.

Another telephone scammer, this time claiming to be the Carson City undersheriff, has surfaced again. Sheriff Ken Furlong is warning citizens not to engage with the caller.

The sheriff's office is receiving a heavy volume of reports from area residents that they had received telephone calls from the current Carson Undersheriff, Steve Albertsen, and warned of a warrant for their arrest, said Furlong.

Scammers are at it again; most recently I received a letter from a citizen who was informed that they had won the “Inter-American Lotto Powerball” held in Hawaii. Having never been to Hawaii, the individual was pretty certain they did not win.

A check had been included with the letter which the recipient was asked to deposit and return a portion of the funds received. This was to pay for non- resident fees and administrative costs. A little research on the internet and it was obvious that the letter was a scam.

At least five residents have filed reports with the Carson City Sheriff's Office in the past two days after a telephone scam that involved so-called NV Energy bill collectors. Of the five complaints being investigated, three residents were defrauded of several hundred dollars, a deputy said Wednesday.

The Carson City Sheriff's Office is again receiving calls from the public in regards to money scams. The first one involves citizens being called and told that a warrant for their arrest has been issued for failure to show up for jury duty.

The caller identifies himself using an actual deputy or Nevada Highway Patrol officers name to convince the called party that this is real.

The caller has also given the name of current judges as being the ones who have signed the warrant. He will then try to convince the called party to send a MoneyPak or some other form of pre-paid debit card.

Nevadans should monitor their credit and debit card statements for unauthorized transactions as Target continues to monitor a security breach that has exposed data from 40 million customers nationwide, said Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

“Nevadans need to be vigilant and monitor their credit and debit card statements closely, especially Target shoppers who visited the store this holiday season,” said Masto.

Nevada JobConnect is warning jobseekers to beware of a Craig’s List scam in which two Northern Nevada customers recently fell victim.

An advertisement on Craig’s List requested jobseekers purchase Wal-Mart gift cards for $70 to pay for OSHA training for a job. Clients were told to go to the Reno or Sparks JobConnect where they would supposedly receive OSHA training to qualify for the job. However, no such training or job opportunity exists, said Renee Olson, administrator for the Employment Security Division of Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Southwest Gas and NV Energy customers are being targeted again by scammers calling and asking for personal information about their accounts and bills, Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said.

Typically people are calling homes and businesses and identifying themselves as being with the utility company and asking for information about their power and in some cases, threatening to shut off the utility if a payment isn't made through a credit card or a cash transfer.

If you find yourself the recipient of a check or money order for a large sum of money, chances are that the check or money order is part of a scam, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office warns.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office has received several reports of victims selling products using online programs, such as Craigslist, being contacted by an unknown buyer who sends a check or money order for an amount over the asking price.

Carson City will offer four classes, the first beginning Feb. 25, presented by the Financial Guidance Center. The classes will focus on financial literacy and education. All classes are free and will be held in the BRIC Conference Room A at 108 E. Proctor Street from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The following topics will be discussed:

Recently, the Carson City District Attorney’s Office was made aware of a potentially misleading solicitation from U S Telecom sweeping the country.

U S Telecom sends a solicitation for telecom services to local municipalities, school districts, and businesses. Although not stamped with the word “invoice,” the document appears to be an invoice and municipalities, school districts, and companies have complained of being duped into paying U S Telecom $425 for what these entities later complain is little or nothing in return.