FBI warns of new scam - VIrtual town hall on current scams and protection tips Wednesday

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office is warning the public to be on alert for a phone scam involving unsolicited calls received from someone claiming to represent the FBI.

In June 2021, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a Lincoln resident who suffered a financial loss of $45,500. The victim received an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be with the FBI, who advised that the victim’s identity was allegedly used in a money laundering and drug smuggling operation. According to the caller, the only way to avoid prosecution was to purchase gift cards from various stores and provide the card numbers.

“A call from any official law enforcement agency can set anyone’s nerves on edge and perpetrators of scams know how to exploit those feelings” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “We want the communities we serve to know that the FBI will never place an unsolicited call to demand personal information or payment. We also invite the community to call our main office at 916-746-7000 to verify if the claims a caller makes are true.”

These types of scam calls share a common theme. The perpetrator advises an unsuspecting citizen of pending prosecution for an alleged crime or an account that was compromised by criminals and used for illicit transactions. The perpetrator may request personal information and often demands fees to be paid immediately to avoid arrest, prosecution, or financial harm.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and AARP Nevada will host an interactive telephonic town hall on June 30, at 10:00 a.m. PDT, to share information about common gift card fraud schemes and prevention tips.

During the hour-long town hall, an Assistant U.S. Attorney and FBI Supervisory Special Agent will discuss common scams to be aware of and provide tips to protect you and your loved ones. Following the presentations, callers will have the opportunity to ask questions.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2020, Nevadans over the age of 60 lost more than $36.5M. In fact, Nevada ranked first among all states for the number of total fraud reports in 2020 with 35,533.

To join the toll-free telephonic town hall, register at https://aarp.cvent.com/events/aarp-nv-gift-card-scams-tth-statewide-6-30-2021/event-summary-8b14e7f1.... In addition to joining the town hall by phone, AARP members and the community at large may join online by going to the AARP Nevada Facebook page at facebook.com/aarpnv.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).