Attorney General Masto Warns Consumers of Legal Aid Wire Transfer Scam


September 25, 2014

Callers Posing as Legal Service Representatives

Las Vegas, NV - Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto is warning consumers of a scam where callers pose as legal representatives of family members needing bail money.

“It is important for consumers to be aware of this scam to prevent being a victim,” said Masto. “If consumers receive a call like this, they should take down all the contact information and investigate with their families if the call is legitimate.”

Local and out of state residents are being contacted by phone, text or email requesting bail for relatives and are being asked to wire money to an account designated by the caller. The call generally comes from the individual who claims to be their kin or someone claiming to be a representative working for “Nevada Legal Aid” and asking them to wire money to an account designated by the caller which will secure their relative’s release.

Consumers should know that “Nevada Legal Aid” is not an entity that exists in Nevada and should not be confused with other legitimate Legal Aid providers.  Also, legitimate, non-profit, Legal Aid providers in the State of Nevada do not handle criminal cases or cases in which bail would be required. 

Consumers are advised to be on the lookout when callers request that money to be sent by wire transfer (because those funds are hard to track and almost impossible to recover). If you receive a call of this nature and feel compelled to send money by wire transfer, first take all of the caller’s contact information. Investigate whether that family member is in fact in jail and needing bail money. 

If anyone has received an email solicitation in this regard, they are encouraged to file a complaint with the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Division at www.ic3.gov. For those who have been contacted by phone or text, they are encouraged to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-382-4357. If you believe that you have been the victim of fraud, deception or an unfair business practice, the Attorney General's Office. Complaint forms are available on our website www.ag.nv.gov.

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