Fraud Awareness Hub
This hub is designed to help individuals and businesses recognize, prevent, and report fraudulent activity. A top priority of this Office is to combat fraud in all its forms and protect our community from financial harm. As scams and financial crimes continue to evolve, staying informed is your first line of defense. Here, you will find practical tips, real-world examples, and official guidance to safeguard yourself and others. Together, we can build a safer, more vigilant community.
Report Fraud
If you have been targeted by fraud—whether or not you have lost money—reporting it is a crucial step in helping law enforcement take action and protect others.
If you have suffered a financial loss due to fraudulent activity, please file a report with the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. The button below will direct you to complete a crime report for the appropriate local jurisdiction.
If you have received fraudulent communications but have not suffered any financial loss, you are encouraged to report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is a federal agency responsible for protecting the public from deceptive or unfair business practices and unfair methods of competition through law enforcement, advocacy, research, and education. Reporting these incidents helps the FTC document and investigate patterns of fraud that may span across multiple jurisdictions, supporting broader efforts to identify and stop fraudulent activity.
Report Fraud with Financial Loss Report Fraud to the FTC
Your report can help uncover larger schemes, support investigations, and prevent future victims. Every report makes a difference.
Resources to Help Combat Fraud
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is proud to provide the resources below to help you recognize the warning signs of fraud and take proactive steps to protect yourself—and those you care about—from becoming victims. From common scam tactics to prevention tips and educational materials, these tools are designed to inform, empower, and strengthen the safety of our community.
- FTC Consumer Guide on Phone Scams
- Avoiding and Reporting Phone Scams
- Types of Scams
- Blocking Unwanted Calls and Texts
- Do Not Call Registry
- Report Phone Scams with the FTC
- Guide to What to Do If You Were Scammed
- Report Identify Theft
- How to Spot, Avoid, and Report Identify Theft
- Recovering from Identify Theft
- Credit Freeze and Fraud Alerts
- Replacing Lost or Stolen IDs
- Nevada Identity Theft Program, a service to assist victims of identity theft
Fraud Trends in Washoe County
- Text Messaging Scam Targeting Cryptocurrancy Users (Link to WCSO Press Release)
- Law Enforcement Impersonation Scam (Link to WCSO Press Release)
- Cryptocurrency Fraud (Link to WCSO Official Facebook Post)
- "Good Samaritan" Scam (Link to WCSO Press Release)
- Online Shopping Scams (Link to WCSO Official Facebook Post)
- Tax Scam (Link to WCSO Official Facebook Post)
- Scam Calls "Spoofing" the WCSO Phone Number (Link to WCSO's Official Facebook Post)
- Amazon Fraud Calls (Link to WCSO Official Facebook Post)