Scammers Impersonate Law Enforcement, Demand Payments From Nye Residents

Nye County leaders issued a public warning on December 19 after local residents reported receiving phone calls in which scammers posed as members of the sheriff's office or other officials and demanded money to avoid arrest. Sheriff Joe McGill and District Attorney Brian Kunzi said the callers sometimes spoof local phone numbers and use names of public officials to make the calls appear legitimate.

Officials clarified that the sheriff's office and the court system do not serve warrants or demand payments by phone. Scammers have instructed victims to purchase payment cards such as Walmart cards, Amazon gift cards, or to send cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. The county receives multiple reports each week of residents being targeted by these schemes.

A related variant presents an alleged failure to appear for jury duty and demands payment or immediate action. District Attorney Brian Kunzi said this is not how the courts or the sheriff's office operate and urged residents to be skeptical of any phone demand that seeks payment to resolve a legal matter.

Local impact has been tangible. Repeated calls have increased anxiety among residents and led some to consider paying under pressure. Officials emphasized that complying with these demands is not required to clear any warrant or court matter. Law enforcement urged anyone who believes they may have an outstanding warrant or a legitimate court notice to contact the relevant agency directly using publicly available phone numbers or to appear in person at the agency.

Nye County provided contact numbers for residents seeking confirmation or to report suspected fraud. The Nye County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 775-751-7000. The Nye County District Attorney’s Office can be reached at 775-751-7080. Residents who receive suspicious calls are encouraged to hang up and call those numbers to verify official actions.

The warnings underscore the need for vigilance and for clear public communication about how law enforcement and courts operate. As the holiday season draws to a close, officials urged residents to protect personal information, resist pressure to make immediate payments, and report incidents so authorities can track and disrupt the schemes.