Scam Alerts and Tips - August 5, 2021
Greetings!
We hope this message finds you well! The Community Foundation is now sending twice monthly Scam Alerts and Tips to protect our community. Thank you for being part of our Preventing Financial Scams Initiative Stakeholders.
COVID-19 Scams
Scammers are reportedly targeting individuals participating in the Vax Nevada Days raffle.

COVID-19 Scams:
According to Immunize Nevada, scammers are using the Vax Nevada Days raffle to acquire participants' personal information.

Immunize Nevada advises everyone to remember how the raffle works so you as a participant can be discerning between what is real and what is a scam. If you are a winner of the raffle, remember that Immunize Nevada will not ask for your banking or personal information. They will also not send you a link via text or email to notify you if you won. Winners will be notified by phone call or email.

If you want to verify notifications, you can email vaxnevadadays.org for more information.


COVID-19 Scam Reported in Reno:
A Reno resident recently reported a scam to the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Scam Tracker:

"A friend messaged me on Facebook about how they received $100,000 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund and that I could apply for it as well. They gave me the phone number of 'Agent Melisa Kay Fowler, the administrator in charge of the ongoing CVDF relief Funds program.'

The scammer seemed unprofessional, which was a red flag, and also asked for all my information via text instead of through a form. But it wasn't until they asked me to pay for a delivery fee upfront that I was really suspicious. Pay $500, get $30,000. Pay $1,000, get $100,000. Isn't the point of the relief fund to get money when you don't have it? Also, I tried to search the said Agent Fowler, and nothing comes up."

Remember that we are not entirely out of the clear with the pandemic. Scammers will use this time to dupe individuals who are vulnerable and in need at this time. Make sure not to give away any of your personal information and be suspicious of those who ask you to provide such information.
Have You Spotted or Stopped a Scam? Report it!
 
Nevada Attorney General
Phone: 888-434-9989.
 
Federal Trade Commission
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Community Foundation of Northern Nevada nevadafund.org