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General Scams

Below are helpful tips to avoid falling victim to General Scams. 
This information is provided by the Community Foundation’s Preventing Financial Scams Initiative.

Tips for Protecting Yourself from 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

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