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Pause. Reflect. Protect: Fraud Prevention Resources for Nevadans

How to recognize a scam, what to do if you are targeted, and where to get free help

AARP

Published August 03, 2026

AARP

If you just got a call, text, or message that felt wrong, you are not alone, and you are not foolish for wondering. Scams are built by professionals to work on careful, intelligent people. In 2024, Nevada consumers filed more than 58,000 reports with the Federal Trade Commission and reported $138.5 million in losses.

AARP Nevada can help you figure out what happened and what to do next.

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Pause. Reflect. Protect.

Almost every scam depends on speed. The scammer needs you to act before you think it through. Slowing down is the single most effective thing you can do.

Pause. Hang up, close the message, or walk away. A real business, agency, or family member will not be harmed by a ten minute delay.

Reflect. Did this contact come out of the blue? Are you feeling fear, urgency, or excitement? Those feelings are the tool, not a side effect. A scammer creates them on purpose because strong emotion makes people skip the step where they check.

Protect. Before you send money or share personal information, call someone you trust. Or call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline and talk it through with a trained specialist.

Government agencies, utilities, and legitimate businesses do not ask for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. If someone asks you to pay that way, it is a scam.

Crypto ATMs, a Scam Nevadans Should Know

You may have noticed these often colorful kiosks in supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants, liquor stores, and even laundromats across Nevada. They go by several names: crypto ATMs, crypto kiosks, BTMs, or virtual currency kiosks.

Crypto ATMs are a legitimate way to convert dollars into cryptocurrency, and most are registered and used for their intended purpose. But they are also a favorite payment method for scammers, because they are largely unregulated at the state level and lack the fraud protections that banks and other money service businesses have.

Once money leaves a crypto ATM, it is very difficult to recover. If anyone instructs you to take cash to one of these machines, stop and call the Helpline.

AARP Nevada is advocating for stronger consumer protections around cryptocurrency kiosks in Nevada.

If You Have Been Targeted

Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360. Trained fraud specialists will listen, help you understand what happened, and walk you through your next steps. The service is free, and you do not need to be an AARP member. Specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Reporting matters even when the money is gone. It helps investigators find patterns and warns your neighbors.

Free Tools You Can Use Today

See what scams are being reported near you. AARP Scam-Tracking Map: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/tracking-map/
Explore fraud prevention tips, quizzes, tip sheets, and sign up for Watchdog Alerts. Visit https://www.aarp.org/fraud

Bring Fraud Prevention to Your Group

AARP Nevada hosts fraud prevention workshops, educational presentations, telephone town halls, and community outreach throughout the year to help Nevadans recognize scams and protect themselves.

Trained AARP Nevada volunteers present on fraud prevention to community groups, senior centers, faith organizations, and businesses across the state at no cost. To request a speaker for your group, visit https://www.aarp.org/forms/nv-speakers-bureau-request-form.html

Contact

For questions about AARP Nevada fraud prevention programs, contact us at aarpnv@aarp.org.

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