OANV Brown Bag Lunch

OANV Brown Bag Lunch: Protecting the Community from Holiday Scams & Fraud

Wednesday, October 1, 202512:00 PMReno Sparks Chamber of Commerce

The alarming reality: Elder financial exploitation has more than doubled since March 2020, with Nevada alone reporting $113.6 million in fraud losses in 2024. Charity scams increase 70% during the holidays, making this the perfect time to strengthen your defenses.

Join us for this essential workshop where you'll learn to identify and protect yourself from today's most common scams targeting seniors.

What You'll Learn to Recognize:

• Romance scams and fake online profiles
• Government impersonation calls (IRS, Social Security, DMV never call demanding payment)
• Tech support pop-up scams and fake virus alerts
• Grandparent emergency scams using voice cloning technology
• Lottery/sweepstakes scams (remember: Nevada has no lottery!)
• Email phishing and text message delivery scams
• Bitcoin ATM and Facebook Marketplace fraud
• Credit card skimming and door-to-door repair scams

Your Defense Strategy:

• Default mindset: "This is a scam" for unsolicited contact
• When in doubt, hang up and call back through official numbers
• Never give out PINs, passwords, or personal information
• How to verify suspicious emails and protect your social media

Expert Panel:

• Wes Duncan, Sparks City Attorney
• Chief Deputy Jason Walker, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office
• Blake VanderWell, Senior ResQ

Free Resources Provided:

• Credit monitoring guidance
• Washoe County Recorder notification service information
• Fraud reporting procedures and contact information

This interactive workshop includes lunch and extensive Q&A time. Bring your real-world scenarios and questions – protecting yourself starts with knowledge.

Free admission • Lunch provided • Take-home resource materials

Don't become part of the $10 billion lost nationwide to scams each year.

Host or Publisher Opportunity Alliance Nevada