Reno · Sparks · Washoe County · Lake Tahoe · Truckee
Reported Scams Board
Community scam alerts, posted for awareness only.
9 active scam alerts in Northern Nevada
Gift Card and Cash Withdrawal Scams Targeting Seniors
Ongoing
Gift Card and Cash Withdrawal Scams Targeting Seniors
Older adults are being coached by phone to withdraw large amounts of cash and buy gift cards, then read the card numbers to the caller. Reno residents describe seniors driving to several grocery stores in one day so no single store notices the volume, and a bank customer who asked for $5,000 to buy gift cards and left convinced the request was legitimate even after a teller, a manager, and a bystander told her it was a scam. Once the numbers are given away the money is usually gone within minutes. No real business or government agency will ever ask you to pay with gift cards.
How it works
- A caller, text, or pop-up claims to be a government agency, bank, tech support, or a relative in trouble, and says there is an urgent problem that only a payment can fix.
- The victim is told to stay on the phone, withdraw cash, and keep the reason secret, including from bank staff and family.
- The victim is told to buy gift cards, sometimes at several stores across town, and read the numbers off the back to the caller, who drains them right away.
Red flags
- Anyone asking you to pay with gift cards. Only scammers do this.
- Being told to stay on the phone while you drive, withdraw cash, or shop.
- Being told not to tell the bank, the cashier, or your family the real reason.
- Urgency, threats, or a story that you must "protect" your money by moving it.
- A large cash withdrawal or a big pile of gift cards that you were told to buy for someone else.
What to do
- Hang up. If a caller is pushing you to buy gift cards, it is a scam, no matter who they say they are.
- If a bank teller or manager questions a large withdrawal or gift card purchase, listen. They are trying to protect you.
- If you already gave card numbers, keep the cards and receipts, contact the gift card company right away, and ask for the money back.
- Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and at ic3.gov, and file a report with local police. If a family member has been gone for hours and is not answering, call police and ask for a welfare check.
- Talk with older friends and family members now about this scam, and agree on a plan: they call you before buying gift cards or moving money for anyone.
Look-Alike Voter Registration Mailers: Verify Before You Act
Seasonal
Look-Alike Voter Registration Mailers: Verify Before You Act
A Reno voter reported a mailer that appeared to come from the Washoe County Registrar of Voters and urged them to register, but it used an incorrect version of their last name, likely pulled from a commercial data broker, and had a return address outside Nevada. We have not confirmed who sent this mailer, and it may not be a scam. The Nevada Secretary of State warns that third-party groups sometimes send registration mailers that look official, and the county also sends real voter notices. The risk is acting on the mailer, such as registering a second time with the wrong name details, or sending personal information to the wrong place, instead of checking your status yourself.
How it works
- A mailer arrives that looks like official election mail and says you are not registered or need to register or update your information.
- Your name and address are often taken from commercial data broker lists, so the details can be slightly wrong, such as a misspelled or partial name.
- Some mailers come from third-party groups, and the Secretary of State notes they can use return address details that resemble a state or county office without being affiliated with it.
- Following the mailer's instructions can lead to a duplicate or incorrect registration, or to handing personal details to an unknown party.
Red flags
- The mailer says you are not registered, but you believe you already are.
- Your name is misspelled, shortened, or otherwise different from your driver's license or voter record.
- A return address or postmark outside Nevada, or no clear name of the office or group that sent it.
- Nevada law requires a non-governmental sender that tells someone they are not or may not be registered to state that the notice is not official election mail. A missing statement is a warning sign.
- It asks for your Social Security number, driver's license number, or payment.
What to do
- Do not fill out or return the mailer. Check your registration yourself at nvsos.gov (Voter Registration Search), typing the address into your browser.
- If you are registered, no action is needed. If you need to register or update, use the state's official online voter registration or contact your county elections office directly.
- Compare the mailer to official forms. The state form has the Nevada state seal and an application number in the upper right corner, according to the Secretary of State.
- If a mailer claims to be from the county but looks wrong, call the Washoe County Registrar of Voters using the number on washoecounty.gov, not one from the mailer.
- Report suspicious election mail to the Nevada Secretary of State's office, and to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service if you believe it is fraudulent.
Business Email Compromise and Fake Invoices
Active
Business Email Compromise and Fake Invoices
A criminal impersonates a boss, vendor, or customer, or takes over a real mailbox, to redirect a payment or change bank details. The FBI's 2025 IC3 report put BEC losses at roughly $3 billion nationwide, and small Nevada businesses, contractors, title companies, and medical offices are regular victims.
How it works
- An email or call appears to come from an owner, vendor, or title company with new payment instructions.
- The request is urgent and asks you to keep it quiet or skip the usual approval.
- The wire or ACH goes to a mule account and is moved on within hours.
Red flags
- New bank details, a changed routing number, or a rushed wire.
- An email from a lookalike domain or a reply-to that differs from the sender.
- A vendor or executive who cannot be reached by phone on a known number.
What to do
- Call your bank's fraud department at once and ask for a wire recall.
- File at ic3.gov within 24 hours and file a police report.
- Follow the steps in our BEC response guide, and adopt call-back verification for all payment changes.
Deceptive Nevada Annual List and Business Filing Notices
Ongoing
Deceptive Nevada Annual List and Business Filing Notices
Official-looking mailers and emails tell new and existing Nevada business owners they must pay a fee to file an Annual List or update corporate records. The Secretary of State has repeatedly warned that these solicitations are not from the state, may include pre-filled forms that change your registered agent, and that the email versions can be outright phishing.
How it works
- A letter or email arrives soon after you register a business, styled like a government notice with a deadline and fee.
- Paying the fee, or signing an enclosed form, buys nothing official and can sign you up for a paid service.
- Email versions may link to fake payment or login pages.
Red flags
- A fee that does not match the state's published Annual List and business license fees.
- Sender address is not a nvsos.gov address, or you are asked to mail payment to a private company.
- A prefilled form asking to change your registered agent.
What to do
- File and pay only through the Secretary of State's official SilverFlume and business portal.
- Report deceptive solicitations to the Secretary of State's office.
- Forward suspicious emails to your IT provider before anyone clicks.
Fake Lake Tahoe Vacation Rental Listings
Seasonal
Fake Lake Tahoe Vacation Rental Listings
Scammers copy photos and descriptions from real cabins, post them at bargain prices, often on Craigslist, and collect deposits by payment app. One reported victim lost $10,000 on a rental that did not exist. South Lake Tahoe Police told reporters in July 2026 that no vacation rental scams had been reported to them that year, so this list is a caution, not a confirmed local wave.
How it works
- A listing looks too good to be true, with a low price and stolen photos.
- The host asks for a deposit or full payment through Venmo, Zelle, wire, or gift cards.
- You find out at arrival, or when the host goes silent, that the property is not for rent.
Red flags
- Prices far below similar rentals, and payment demanded outside a booking platform.
- Reluctance to video chat or show the property live.
- No valid City of South Lake Tahoe vacation home rental permit.
What to do
- Verify the address against the city's vacation home rental permit map before paying.
- Book through platforms with payment protection, and pay by credit card.
- Report to South Lake Tahoe Police at (530) 542-6100 and to the platform where you found the listing.
Crypto Kiosk (Bitcoin ATM) Scams
Active
Crypto Kiosk (Bitcoin ATM) Scams
Scammers call, text, or email with an urgent story, then direct victims to feed cash into a cryptocurrency kiosk at a gas station or convenience store. The Nevada Attorney General warned in June 2026 that the money is nearly impossible to trace or recover, and that older adults are hit hardest.
How it works
- Contact arrives as an unexpected call, text, email, or pop-up, often posing as a relative, a bank, a government agency, or a company you know.
- The story creates fear and urgency: a hacked account, an arrest warrant, a grandchild in trouble, or a problem with your Social Security number.
- You are told to withdraw cash and deposit it into a crypto kiosk, then scan a QR code or type a wallet address the scammer gives you.
Red flags
- Anyone who asks you to pay with a crypto kiosk. No real agency, utility, or bank will.
- You are told to stay on the phone, keep it secret, or lie to bank tellers or family.
- A scan-this-code or type-this-address instruction from a caller.
What to do
- Stop. Hang up and call a family member or your bank on a number you already have.
- If you already deposited money, contact the kiosk operator immediately (the phone number is on the machine), then report to police, the FTC, and the FBI IC3.
- Report the kiosk and the scam to the Nevada Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Fake Deputy, Police, and Court Calls
Active
Fake Deputy, Police, and Court Calls
Callers claim to be a deputy, officer, or court official and say you missed jury duty, have an unpaid citation, or face an arrest warrant. Scammers spoof caller ID so the call appears to come from the Sheriff's Office, a local court, or Reno Police, then demand immediate payment.
How it works
- A call or voicemail from a number that looks like a real local agency line.
- You are told there is a warrant, missed jury duty, or unpaid fine and that you can avoid arrest by paying now.
- Payment is requested by gift cards, crypto kiosks, or payment apps.
Red flags
- Law enforcement and courts do not take payment over the phone, by gift card, or at a Bitcoin ATM.
- Pressure to act immediately and to keep the call secret.
- The caller ID looks right. Spoofing makes that meaningless.
What to do
- Hang up. Do not call back the number that called you.
- Look up the agency's number yourself and call to verify. Reno Police: (775) 334-2677 (non-emergency). Washoe County Sheriff: (775) 785-9276.
- If you paid, report to police right away and to the FTC and FBI IC3.
QR Code Phishing (Quishing)
Active
QR Code Phishing (Quishing)
A QR code on an email, letter, sticker, parking sign, or text message sends you to a fake login or payment page. Because the link is an image, some email filters miss it, and the scan happens on a personal phone that often lacks company protections. Nevada officials noted QR codes in the March 2026 fake traffic ticket messages.
How it works
- You receive an email or letter that says to scan a code to verify an account, pay a fine, or track a package.
- The code opens a look-alike site that asks you to sign in or pay.
- Stickers placed over real codes on parking meters or menus redirect payments.
Red flags
- An unexpected QR code plus urgency.
- A code stuck over another code on a sign or meter.
- Being asked to sign in after scanning.
What to do
- Preview the link your phone shows before opening it, and prefer typing the official address.
- Never enter credentials or payment details after an unexpected scan.
- Report suspicious codes at work to your IT provider.
Online Investment and "Rug Pull" Crypto Scams
Active
Online Investment and "Rug Pull" Crypto Scams
Criminals recruit victims into legitimate-looking investments, often crypto tokens promoted through social media, dating apps, or messaging groups, then disappear with the money. The Sheriff's Office also runs a program with local businesses to help stop crypto fraud.
How it works
- A friendly stranger, influencer, or group invites you to a can't-lose investment.
- A slick app or website shows fake gains so you keep depositing.
- When you try to withdraw, you are asked for more fees or the site vanishes.
Red flags
- Guaranteed returns, pressure to invest quickly, or a stranger giving investment advice.
- A platform you cannot verify with a regulator.
- Withdrawal fees or taxes demanded before you can get your money.
What to do
- Stop sending money and keep all screenshots, wallet addresses, and messages.
- Report to the Sheriff's Office (fraud hub), FBI IC3, and the Nevada Attorney General.
- Beware of recovery services that contact you afterward. They are often the same criminals.
Fake Bail and Jail Payment Requests
Ongoing
Fake Bail and Jail Payment Requests
Scammers watch publicly available information about people in custody, then contact family members claiming to be a jail, bondsman, or the detainee and demand bail money right away. The Sheriff's Office says requests for Venmo, Cash App, Bitcoin, or other digital payments are a major red flag.
How it works
- A call or message says a loved one was arrested and needs bail immediately.
- The details may be accurate because they were taken from public booking information.
- You are told to pay through an app, crypto, or gift cards.
Red flags
- Bail requested through Venmo, Cash App, crypto, or gift cards.
- Urgency plus a demand for secrecy.
- The caller cannot be verified through the detention facility.
What to do
- Do not send money. Contact the Washoe County Detention Facility or the Sheriff's Office using a number you look up yourself.
- Call the family member directly if you can.
- Report attempts to the Sheriff's Office.
Fake "Nevada DMV Official Alert" Text with Lookalike Link
Active
Fake "Nevada DMV Official Alert" Text with Lookalike Link
A Reno resident shared a text that calls itself a "Nevada DMV Official Alert." It claims an outstanding traffic violation on your driver record, gives a fake citation number and a deadline, threatens license suspension, registration restrictions, and fees, and points to a link that is not a Nevada government website. It arrives from a foreign number, not a DMV line. This matches the fake traffic ticket and DMV text wave that Nevada officials warned about in March 2026, and state agencies do not notify people of traffic violations by unsolicited text.
Example of the message (do not click)
Nevada DMV Official Alert. You have an outstanding traffic violation on your driver record per Nevada state law. Citation No.: NV-DMV-876543. Deadline: Apr 7, 2026. Unresolved cases may lead to license suspension, registration restrictions and administrative fees. Officially authorized: https://nv.govezx[.]cfd/dmv. Please resolve through official DMV or court channels only. This is an authorized automated notification. (Sent from a +212 number. Link shown with the dot in brackets so it cannot be clicked.)
How it works
- A text arrives from an unfamiliar number with an official-sounding title, a made-up citation number, and a near-term deadline.
- The link uses a lookalike address. It starts with "nv.gov" but continues into a different, non-government domain (govezx, ending in .cfd), so the real site name is the part at the very end before the first slash.
- The page is designed to collect card numbers and personal details under the cover of paying a fine or fee.
Red flags
- The web address is not a nv.gov address. Read the domain from right to left up to the first slash: a different ending, such as .cfd, .top, or .xyz, means it is not the state.
- The sender is a phone number with a foreign country code (+212 here), not a state short code.
- Wording that insists it is official, such as "officially authorized" and "authorized automated notification."
- A citation number and deadline meant to feel real, plus threats of suspension and fees.
What to do
- Do not tap the link or reply, including STOP. Delete the message.
- To check for a real ticket or DMV issue, type dmv.nv.gov into your browser yourself or call the DMV.
- Report the text to 7726 (SPAM) and at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and use the iPhone or Android Report Junk or Report Spam option.
- If you entered card or personal details, call your card issuer, consider a credit freeze, and file at ic3.gov.
Fake Traffic Ticket, DMV, and Court Texts
Active
Fake Traffic Ticket, DMV, and Court Texts
Text messages claim you have an overdue traffic ticket, a final DMV notice, or a court fine and threaten license suspension or arrest unless you pay through a link. State officials said the March 2026 messages appeared to be AI-written, blended several unrelated agencies, and used fake laws and suspicious links.
How it works
- An unsolicited text from an unfamiliar number, sometimes with an official-sounding agency name or a logo that looks faint or misspelled.
- It demands payment within hours or days and includes a link, and in some waves a QR code, to a look-alike payment page.
- The page collects your card number, driver's license details, or personal information.
Red flags
- State agencies do not notify people of traffic violations by unsolicited text.
- Payment demanded through QR codes, personal links, or third-party payment sites.
- Threats of license suspension, credit damage, or arrest, and a generic greeting or signature.
What to do
- Do not click, scan, or reply. Delete the text.
- Check any real ticket or DMV account by typing the official website address yourself.
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and file at ic3.gov. If you entered card details, call your card issuer now.
Tax Season Scams and Tax-Themed Phishing
Seasonal
Tax Season Scams and Tax-Themed Phishing
Fake IRS or state tax notices, bogus tax preparers, and payroll-themed phishing emails spike around filing deadlines. Officials recommend filing early to reduce identity-theft refund fraud, and our blog documented a tax-themed campaign aimed at Reno payroll and HR staff.
How it works
- Emails, texts, or calls claim you owe back taxes or that your refund is on hold.
- Fake preparers promise big refunds and take your information or a fee.
- Phishing messages aimed at businesses use payroll or W-2 requests to steal credentials or employee data.
Red flags
- The IRS starts contact by mail, not by text or threatening phone call.
- A request for W-2 or payroll data from someone you cannot verify.
- A preparer who will not sign the return or who bases fees on the size of your refund.
What to do
- File early and set up an IRS Identity Protection PIN.
- Verify payroll and W-2 requests by phone with a number you already have.
- Report tax scams to the IRS and the FTC, and identity theft at identitytheft.gov.
AI Voice Clone Family Emergency Calls
Active
AI Voice Clone Family Emergency Calls
A call in the voice of a grandchild, child, or boss says there has been an accident or an arrest and money is needed now. Scammers can clone a voice from a few seconds of audio taken from social media or voicemail. Nevada ranks second in the nation for senior scam risk in one 2026 analysis of FBI and FTC data, so older adults deserve extra attention.
How it works
- A distressed call from a familiar voice, often from an unknown number.
- A second person, posing as a lawyer or officer, takes over and demands money by wire, gift card, or crypto kiosk.
- You are told not to tell anyone.
Red flags
- An emergency plus secrecy plus an unusual payment method.
- The caller cannot answer a question only the real person would know.
- The number is unfamiliar or the call quality is odd.
What to do
- Hang up and call the person directly on the number you have saved.
- Agree on a family code word now, and never share it by text or online.
- Report to the FTC and the FBI IC3.
Fake Auto-Renewal and Refund Scam Emails
Ongoing
Fake Auto-Renewal and Refund Scam Emails
The Sheriff's Office has warned about a scam disguised as the auto-renewal of identity theft protection or security software. Scams of this type typically claim you were charged and give a phone number to dispute it, then push you toward remote access to your computer or your bank login.
How it works
- A message says you were billed for a renewal you never ordered.
- You are told to call a number to cancel or dispute the charge.
- A common next step is a request to install remote access software or to send money back after a fake refund error.
Red flags
- A charge for a product you do not recognize with a phone number only.
- Anyone asking you to install remote access software.
- A refund sent 'by mistake' with a request to return part of it.
What to do
- Do not call the number. Check your bank or card statement directly.
- If you allowed remote access, disconnect from the internet, change passwords from a clean device, and call your bank.
- Report to the Sheriff's Office and the FTC.
NV Energy Imposter Calls and Meter Upgrade Scams
Ongoing
NV Energy Imposter Calls and Meter Upgrade Scams
Callers spoof NV Energy's number, threaten to cut off power within the hour, or say you must pay for a new meter or meter upgrade. NV Energy says it does not call to demand immediate payment for any reason. Small businesses are frequent targets because a shutoff threat during business hours feels real.
How it works
- A call, text, or email says your account is past due or a meter must be replaced.
- You are told to pay in minutes by Zelle, Venmo, Bitcoin, prepaid card, or a QR or bar code.
- The number on caller ID looks like NV Energy's.
Red flags
- NV Energy gives a 10-day notice on your bill and 48-hour notice by U.S. Mail before disconnection for nonpayment.
- NV Energy does not accept Zelle, Venmo, MoneyPak, or Bitcoin, and does not ask for payment by QR or bar code.
- A demand for immediate payment on a call you did not expect.
What to do
- Hang up. Call NV Energy customer service at 775-834-4444 (Northern Nevada, 24/7).
- Report scam attempts to NV Energy at (775) 834-SCAM (7226).
- If you paid, contact your bank or card provider immediately and file a police report.
Mail Theft and Counterfeit Check Fraud
Ongoing
Mail Theft and Counterfeit Check Fraud
Stolen mail lets criminals wash or copy checks and steal identities. Reno Police reported a counterfeit check operation in Washoe County that used information from lost and stolen checks and ID cards to hit local businesses. The FBI warns that mail-theft-related check fraud is rising nationwide.
How it works
- Checks are stolen from mailboxes, drop boxes, or vehicles.
- Payee names and amounts are chemically altered (check washing) or the check image is copied and reprinted (check cooking).
- Counterfeit checks are cashed or deposited at businesses and banks.
Red flags
- Checks with smudged ink, mismatched fonts, or changed payee names.
- Customers paying with a check for an unusual overpayment and asking for a refund.
- Bills or statements that did not arrive.
What to do
- Use online bill pay or hand outgoing checks to a postal carrier or post office counter.
- Check account activity often and set up bank alerts. Ask your bank about positive pay for a business.
- Report mail theft to USPS Postal Inspectors and file a police report.
Fake Washoe County "Application Approval Fee" Emails
Active
Fake Washoe County "Application Approval Fee" Emails
Property owners and development applicants in unincorporated Washoe County received emails, signed with the name of a Planning Commission official, saying they must pay an application approval fee to get final approval. The details came from public records, which made the emails look legitimate. Douglas County reported a similar permit fee email.
How it works
- An email cites a real project address or application number and a real official's name.
- It says a fee must be paid before final approval, with payment instructions and a request for proof of payment.
- The payment goes to the scammer, not the county.
Red flags
- Government agencies do not require development application fees by email.
- Public details used to look official, plus an urgent deadline.
- Payment instructions that route to a personal or unfamiliar account.
What to do
- Do not pay. Call the Washoe County Planning Program at (775) 328-6100 using the number you look up yourself.
- Forward suspicious emails to your IT provider and delete them.
- Document everything and report to local law enforcement if you paid.
Fake Accident and Ransom Calls (Virtual Kidnapping)
Ongoing
Fake Accident and Ransom Calls (Virtual Kidnapping)
A Reno parent in their 60s, at work, answered a call from a local-looking number and heard a young woman sobbing that she had been in an accident and needed a pickup. A man then came on the line claiming to be the daughter's drug dealer, said she owed $50,000 and could go free for $10,000, and, when the parent hung up, called back at once and threatened violence. The parent walked to their boss's office, had the boss keep the caller talking, and reached the daughter directly, who was safe at home. The caller also knew personal details, including the daughter's unusual name spelling. The FBI calls this a virtual kidnapping: no one has actually been taken, and the caller counts on panic.
How it works
- A call, often from a local-looking number, opens with a crying or screaming voice claiming to be your child or relative in trouble, such as an accident or an arrest.
- A second voice takes over, claims to be holding them or that they owe money, and demands a ransom or payment, threatening harm and demanding you stay on the line and tell no one.
- Callers use personal details found or bought from public sources such as social media to sound believable, and may play recordings or background noise.
- The FBI says a related version claims a relative caused an accident and will not be released or allowed to go to the hospital until damages are paid.
Red flags
- A hysterical voice that is hard to identify, followed by a stranger who does the talking.
- Demands for secrecy, to stay on the line, or to meet away from people with no police involvement.
- The call comes from a number that is not your family member's phone. Numbers can be faked to look local.
- The caller cannot answer simple questions about your relative, or the story does not fit what you hear in the background.
- The FBI notes that payment is often demanded by wire transfer, sometimes split into small amounts sent to several people.
- Details that seem too personal. Having your name or your child's name does not prove the caller knows your family.
What to do
- Do not send money. Have someone else, such as a coworker, keep the caller talking while you reach your relative directly on their known number, or check where they are.
- Hang up and call or text your relative, or call someone who is with them. Do not use a number the caller gives you.
- Call the police, and report to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALLFBI or at ic3.gov. Write down the number, time, and what was said.
- Agree on a family code word now, and ask for it on any emergency call. Never share it online or by text.
- Consider limiting what is public on social media, and tell older relatives about this scam ahead of time.
Fake USPS "Package Can't Be Delivered" Texts
Ongoing
Fake USPS "Package Can't Be Delivered" Texts
Text messages that appear to come from USPS say a package cannot be delivered or that delivery needs a response from you, and ask you to follow a link and confirm personal information. The Postal Inspection Service calls this smishing. The links lead to fake sites that collect logins, card numbers, and other sensitive information, or that can install malware. Reno residents report getting these texts, and the same trick is used with other carriers.
How it works
- An unsolicited text says a package is on hold, an address is incomplete, or a fee is needed, and includes a link.
- The link opens a look-alike delivery page that asks for your address, card details for a small redelivery fee, or account logins.
- The collected details are used for card fraud, account takeover, or identity theft.
Red flags
- USPS says it will not send texts or emails about a package unless you first asked for tracking updates with a tracking number, and those messages will not contain a link.
- You are not expecting a package, or the text has no tracking number you recognize.
- A request for a fee, card number, Social Security number, or password to release a package.
- Urgency, misspellings, or a link that is not a usps.com address.
What to do
- Do not tap the link or reply. Delete the text.
- To check on a real package, type usps.com into your browser yourself and enter the tracking number there.
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). To report a USPS-themed text, email the message text or a screenshot to spam@uspis.gov, and file at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.
- If you entered card or login details, call your card issuer, change the password on any account that shares it, and consider a credit freeze.
Fake "Washoe County" Court Case and Warrant Calls
Ongoing
Fake "Washoe County" Court Case and Warrant Calls
Reno residents report repeated calls from people who say the resident is wanted by "Washoe County" over a made-up court case. The callers skip every real legal step and usually claim they tried to reach you at your address but the message could not be delivered. One resident who pushed back by asking why legal notices were not sent by certified mail was hung up on, and about 30 minutes later the same caller phoned the resident's grandmother with the same story. The Second Judicial District Court and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office have both warned about scammers posing as court staff and deputies who demand payment to avoid arrest.
How it works
- A call, voicemail, or text says you are wanted or have a court matter with "Washoe County," often with a made-up case and no real case details.
- The caller says they tried to contact you or serve you at your address and could not, which is meant to make the problem sound already in progress.
- You are pushed to act right away, share personal information, or pay to avoid arrest or penalties. If you hang up or push back, the same scammers may move on to a relative, often an older one.
- Some versions send fake court documents by text or email.
Red flags
- Legal papers are not delivered by phone call, voicemail, or text. Real court matters do not start with a call demanding payment.
- The Second Judicial District Court says it will never unexpectedly text or email official court documents, cannot accept payment by phone, and never asks for personal or financial information by phone.
- The Sheriff's Office says it will never ask for payment by gift cards, crypto, wire transfer, or payment apps, and will not threaten arrest over the phone.
- No case number you can verify, or a case number that court staff cannot find.
- Pressure to act now, plus a story that a message "could not be delivered."
What to do
- Hang up. Do not argue, give any information, or call back the number.
- To check on any real court matter, call the District Court Resource Center at (775) 325-6731, or call the Washoe County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at (775) 785-9276, using numbers you look up yourself.
- Tell parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Scammers often try the same script on an older family member right after.
- Report the call to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and if you lost money, also to local police and ic3.gov.
No scams match that search. Try a different word or clear the filters.
Where to report a scam
Report to more than one place. Official reports help investigators see patterns and are often required by your bank or insurer.
| Who | Use it for | How |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | Immediate danger, or a crime in progress | Call 911 |
| Reno Police Department | Fraud, theft, and scams in Reno | Non-emergency (775) 334-2677 |
| Washoe County Sheriff's Office | Unincorporated Washoe County, fraud reports | (775) 785-9276 · Fraud Awareness Hub |
| South Lake Tahoe Police | Rental and other scams in South Lake Tahoe | (530) 542-6100 |
| Nevada Attorney General | Consumer fraud, crypto kiosks, deceptive business practices | ag.nv.gov · Bureau of Consumer Protection |
| FBI IC3 | Internet-enabled fraud, BEC, crypto, wire fraud (report within 24 to 72 hours if money moved) | ic3.gov |
| FTC | Any scam, plus a recovery plan for identity theft | reportfraud.ftc.gov · identitytheft.gov |
| Better Business Bureau | Public scam warnings | BBB Scam Tracker |
| NV Energy | Utility imposter calls | (775) 834-SCAM (7226) |
| Washoe County Planning | Verify any permit or development fee request | (775) 328-6100 |
| Nevada Secretary of State | Deceptive business filing notices | Report on nvsos.gov |
| Your bank or card issuer | Any payment already sent | Call the number on the back of your card |
I already paid or gave information. Now what?
Speed matters most in the first hours. Do these in order.
- Stop all contact with the scammer. Do not send more money, even to get the first payment back.
- Call your bank or card issuer right away. Ask for a recall or chargeback. Wires and ACH have the shortest windows.
- Paid with a gift card? Call the card company with the card number and receipt. Paid at a crypto kiosk? Call the kiosk operator (the number is on the machine).
- Change passwords from a clean device if you shared a login, code, or allowed remote access. Turn on multi-factor authentication. Contact your phone carrier if you fear a SIM swap.
- Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion if you shared your Social Security number or ID. It is free.
- File reports: local police or the Sheriff, the FTC, the FBI IC3, and the Nevada Attorney General (see the table above). Keep the report numbers.
- Save evidence: screenshots, texts, emails with headers, phone numbers, wallet addresses, and receipts.
- Warn people you know, and expect follow-up "recovery" scams. Anyone who contacts you offering to get your money back for a fee is almost certainly a second scam.
- Business victim? Follow our step-by-step BEC response guide and notify your cyber insurance carrier.
Red flags that fit almost every scam
Pressure and secrecy
Act now, do not tell anyone, do not hang up, do not talk to your bank. Real organizations give you time.
Payment that cannot be reversed
Gift cards, crypto kiosks, wire transfers, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and prepaid cards are what scammers ask for because the money is hard to claw back.
Government or business threats
Threats of arrest, license suspension, or shutoff over the phone or by text. Agencies use official mail and never ask for payment by phone or text link.
Links, codes, and callback numbers you did not ask for
Do not tap links, scan QR codes, or call numbers in an unexpected message. Go to the official website by typing it yourself.
Set a family code word
Pick a word or phrase that only your family knows, and ask for it on any emergency call, even if the voice sounds exactly right. Voice cloning makes voices easy to fake. Never share the code word online or by text. Businesses can do the same for payment requests: call back a known number before moving money.
Request a free community talk
Short, plain-language sessions on recognizing and avoiding scams, for seniors, libraries, neighborhood groups, and community organizations in the Reno-Tahoe area. Talks cover the scams on this board, what to do if someone has already paid, and how to talk with family about it. Bring your questions.
If approved, this service will be provided as a free community service. Tell us about your group below. You can also reach us through the contact page.
Report a scam
Saw something in the Reno-Tahoe area that is not on this page? Tell us. With your permission we add an anonymous summary so your neighbors can spot it. Filing here does not replace a police or FTC report, so use the agency list above too.
About this board
How notices are chosen
A notice is posted only when a public warning from a government agency, law enforcement, or a news outlet describes it, or when a neighbor's report matches a pattern already documented elsewhere. Every notice links the sources it was written from. Neighbor reports are unverified, are labeled "Community reported," and never include names or full phone numbers. Suspicious web addresses are shown defanged, such as example[.]com, so they cannot be clicked by accident.
This board is updated daily and the date at the top shows the last update. Dates on each notice show when a warning was published, and a scam listed as active may have faded or changed form since.
Share it, link it, print it
Libraries, senior centers, neighborhood groups, and news outlets are welcome to link to the board or to any single notice, and to print notices for a bulletin board or newsletter. Each notice has its own page and a print button. New notices are published in the RSS feed.
Suggested citation: Community Scam Notice Board, High Sierra Cyber, Reno, Nevada. https://highsierracyber.com/reported-scams/
Corrections and press questions: use the contact page. We fix errors promptly and remove notices that turn out to be wrong.
Disclaimer. This page exists solely for community awareness. It is not a sales page and is not an official government or law enforcement notice. High Sierra Cyber is not affiliated with any agency named here and cannot verify every report. Details, phone numbers, and policies change, so confirm with the official agency before acting. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Submitted reports are unverified and may be summarized anonymously at our discretion.