Current Scams

Current Scams & How to Protect Yourself

At the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, we’re committed to protecting our community from the latest scams. Below are two prevalent schemes we've identified—please read carefully, be vigilant, and share this information with others.

1. Jury Duty / Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams

  • What’s happening? Scammers call residents, claiming to be deputies, detectives, or other law enforcement officials—even providing real-sounding badge numbers or cloned caller ID to appear legitimate. They say you face arrest, fines, or must deal with a family emergency, and that you must pay immediately (often via money transfer, Bitcoin, or cashier’s checks).
  • What to do: Hang up immediately.
  • Remember: We will never call to request money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or any form of payment over the phone. If you're told otherwise, it's a scam.

2. Gold Bar Scam (Government Impersonation)

  • What’s happening? Scammers contact people unexpectedly by phone, email, or text, claiming your account has been hacked or your identity is compromised. Then, they instruct you to “protect your money” by buying gold bars or withdrawing cash—and handing it off to a courier or delivering it to someone “from the government.”
  • Why it's fraudulent: No legitimate government agency or official will ever ask you to buy gold, move your money to a “secure” account, or deliver cash or gold to anyone.
  • Your response should be: If you get such a request, stop immediately. Hang up, block the sender, and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Scammers are constantly evolving. These impersonation scams—whether involving jury duty, law enforcement, or “protecting your money”—are designed to exploit trust and urgency. Stay alert, question unexpected calls or messages, and always verify before you act.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a similar scam and provided money to the scammer, please report it immediately by calling the non-emergency line at 311 or filing an online crime report here.

We regularly share information on current scams on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram.