Scammers pretending to be Carson City Sheriff’s Office employees

Recently, Carson City residents have been contacted by scammers pretending to be the Carson City Sheriff’s Office employees.

These scammers will tell the potential victims they have warrants for their arrest or they have missed jury duty, according to a press release from the Carson City Sheriff’s Office.

The scammers will solicit personal information and then demand payment in some form, such as gift cards, cash applications, or Bitcoin, to not be arrested.

“The Carson City Sheriff’s Office will not contact you about a warrant, missing jury duty, or any other reason and will not request payment in any form to satisfy criminal charges,” the release said.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office receives many weekly fraud reports where victims are scammed for a variety of reasons. A common factor in these fraud reports is victims are asked for personal information, directed to send money via cash applications and gift cards, and deposit funds into a Bitcoin ATM. Once funds are sent, tracking, and recovering the funds are very difficult. The scammers often stay on the phone while you send money and give specific instructions on where to go and not to tell anyone.

TIPS TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED

If you are called and the caller says you have a criminal case, warrant, or missed jury duty and they demand payment, you are being scammed. Do not give personal information, including banking information.

Do not purchase gift cards and provide the gift information to the scammers. If you are instructed to deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM, those funds are quickly dispersed, and recovery or reversal of the funds is almost impossible. If you suspect you are being scammed, stop all communication with the scammers and notify your local law enforcement.

Anyone with information, is asked to contact the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Investigation Division, Det. Sam Hatley 775-283-7852, Dispatch 775-887-2007 or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.