norman
country-financial
March 28, 2024 4:05 pm
Your hometown Newspaper since 1987.
Search
Close this search box.

MV Chamber Discusses Prevention of Fraud

By Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
Submitted June 25, 2008


Members of the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce heard a presentation about how to avoid becoming victims of fraud at a general membership meeting held on Thursday, June 19. The guest speaker at the meeting was Commissioner of the Nevada Consumer Affairs Division, James Campos.

Campos explained that the Consumer Affairs Division is the state government entity that regulates deceptive trade practices in the marketplace. “Most people don’t know much about us or what we do,” Campos said. “That is why I’m always eager to present this information around the state to groups like this to let people know what we can do for them.”

In his presentation Campos reviewed some of the most common methods that people fall victim to fraud. The internet is the number one medium for fraud, Campos said. He specifically talked about several common scams that originate from Nigeria where people are contacted through email and asked to wire money to assist in a money making scheme oversees.

“Never wire money to someone you don’t know,” Campos said. “Because guess what happens when you wire money…it’s gone! You can’t ever get it back.”

While these internet schemes seem far-fetched to most people, Campos said that they do draw people in. “We estimate that about 1-2 percent of the people contacted in these email scams actually fall for it,” Campos said. “That is why these people continue try it.”

Another common scam that Campos warned about was telephone calls claiming to be a charitable organization asking for contributions. “You might get a call from someone claiming to be raising money for firefighters or something like that,” he said. “But the money that you give ends up, not going to firefighters, but just goes in their pockets.”

Identity theft is also a huge concern to the Consumer Affairs Division. Campos cited the fact that Las Vegas has become the #1 city in the nation for instances of identity theft. He encouraged the audience to be very cautious about using ATM debit cards; even at their own bank kiosks. “If you think that you are safe at a bank kiosk you are wrong,” he said.

Many identity thefts happen by a person installing a small card reading device in bank ATM machines or gasoline pumps. The device is installed on a Friday night and picked up again on Sunday after it has recorded the personal banking information of everyone who has used the machine during that time.

Campos also explained that many instances of fraud also happen against small businesses. “Small businesses, often in rural areas, become targets for all kinds of fraud,” Campos said.

Campos encouraged people who had experienced any kind of fraud, to report it to the Consumer Affairs Division. Many people will report instances of fraud to their credit card companies or to the Better Business Bureau and then leave it at that, Campos said. “But we are a governmental agency in charged of monitoring and regulating these activities,” Campos said. “We have the ability to do the enforcement and we need to know where the problem areas are.”

Campos stated that the Nevada Consumer Affairs Division had recently posted the first state-based fraud fighting website in the country: www.fightfraud.nv.gov. At that site, consumers can learn about recent fraudulent activities and scams that have been reported. This can help Nevada consumers be more vigilant against fraud, Campos said.

Instances of fraud can be reported to the Nevada Consumer Affairs Division by calling 702-486-7355.

Print This Article:

Share This Article:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Screen Shot 2023-02-05 at 10.55.46 PM
2-21-2024-fullpagefair
4 Youth Service WEB
2-28-2024 WEB Hole Foods St Patricks
No data was found
2023 WEB BANNER 2 DEFAULT AD whitneyswater
Mesquite Works Web Ad 10-2020
Scroll to Top
Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

Get notified about new articles