WASHOE COUNTY — More than likely, you have received a suspicious phone call, listened to a voicemail demanding money, or received a message claiming to be from a law enforcement agency. While many people immediately recognize these calls as scams, criminals continue to successfully target victims throughout our community.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents to remain vigilant amid ongoing reports of scammers impersonating deputies, supervisors, and other government officials in an effort to obtain money or personal information.
In many cases, the caller claims the victim missed jury duty, failed to appear in court, has an outstanding citation, or is the subject of an arrest warrant. The caller then creates a sense of urgency, demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest, fines, or other legal consequences.
These scams can appear convincing. Scammers often spoof phone numbers to make it appear the call is coming from a legitimate government agency or law enforcement office. They may use the names of actual employees, reference publicly available information, or leave professional-sounding voicemail messages designed to gain the victim’s trust.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public of the following:
- The Sheriff’s Office will never call and demand payment over the phone.
- The Sheriff’s Office will never request payment using gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, or electronic payment applications.
- The Sheriff’s Office will never threaten immediate arrest in an attempt to obtain payment.
- The Sheriff’s Office will never instruct someone to remain on the phone while withdrawing money or purchasing gift cards.
If you receive a suspicious call:
- Hang up immediately.
- Do not provide personal, financial, or banking information.
- Do not send money or make any payment based on the caller’s instructions.
- Independently verify any claim by contacting the agency through an official phone number.
To verify information or report suspicious activity, contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office:
- Main Line: 775-328-3001
- Non-Emergency Dispatch: 775-785-WCSO (9276)
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to talk with family members, friends, and loved ones about these scams. Criminals frequently target older adults and other vulnerable individuals, but anyone can become a victim.
Additional fraud prevention and safety information can be found at our Fraud Awareness Hub.
