STATE OF NEVADA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 100 N. Carson Street Carson City, Nevada 89701-4717 FRANKIE SUE DEL PAPA Telephone (775) 684-1100 THOMAS M. PATTON Attorney General Fax (775) 684-1108 First Assistant Attorney General WEBSITE: http://ag.state.nv.us E-Mail: [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tara Shepperson January 26, 2001 Executive Director Nevada Cyber Crime Task Force Phone: 775-688-1869 or 775-688-1813 MEDIA ADVISORY Please assist us in getting the word out about this important conference LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL TURN HIGH-TECH AT CYBER CRIME CONFERENCE The Nevada Cyber Crime Task Force, created by the state Legislature in 1999 to combat the growing threat of computer-based crimes in Nevada, will offer three days of presentations and workshops to teach the latest crime-fighting techniques during a Cyber Crime Conference at the Casa Blanca Resort in Mesquite, Nevada, February 28- March 2, 2001. One and three-day tuitions are available, and information can be found on the Nevada Cyber Crime Task Force website at cybercrime.state.nv.us, or by calling (775) 688-1813. The conference is geared towards law enforcement and prosecutors, but is also open to business people and the general public. The Nevada Cyber Crime Task Force, housed within the Attorney General’s Office, was created following the passage of the Omnibus High Technology Crime Bill during the 1999 Legislative session. Training for law enforcement, businesses and the general public is one of the main goals of the Task Force, which includes federal, state and local agencies that offer training on detecting and combating crimes involving computers, along with providing expertise to Nevada law enforcement in computer crime analysis. According to Tara Shepperson, Executive Director of the Nevada Cyber Crime Task Force, “The increased use of computers and devises such as cell phones and computerized personal diaries has raised challenges for law enforcement. Often, evidence of a crime may not be found on paper or in file cabinets. Rather, law enforcement must enter the virtual electronic environment of the Internet and computer files to retrieve information.” --more-- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, whose office sponsored Senate Bill 485, the Omnibus High Technology Crime Bill, said, “Everyone associated with the prosecution of high tech crimes will need to better understand how the technology works and is evolving. The Mesquite conference will be a great learning tool for law enforcement and prosecutors in the battle to stay ahead of those who would use computers illegally.” The Cyber Crime Conference is being co-sponsored by the Nevada Prosecution Advisory Council. For more information about the conference or the Task Force please call Tara Shepperson at (775) 688-1869. ### STATE OF NEVADA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 100 N. Carson Street Carson City, Nevada 89701-4717 FRANKIE SUE DEL PAPA Telephone (775) 684-1100 THOMAS M. PATTON Attorney General Fax (775) 684-1108 First Assistant Attorney General WEBSITE: http://ag.state.nv.us E-Mail: [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Steve George January 26, 2001 (775) 684-1114 ATTORNEY GENERAL WARNS OF SCAM POPPING UP ACROSS NEVADA ONCE AGAIN Carson City--Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa is warning Nevadans to be on the alert concerning an age-old, worldwide scam involving a group referring to themselves as representing the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Finance, Foreign Contract Department. Del Papa said her office has received recent copies of transmittals from concerned citizens about the scam which, unfortunately, many people have fallen prey to in the past. A message sent via fax machine or letter to scores of people around the world states that the group is secretly contacting you about a large sum of money ($96,000,000) that you can lay a 30% claim to, if you send the group your bank and residential information. In fact, what happens is that victims who fall prey to this “get rich quick” scam have their bank accounts wiped out. Although it is illegal in Nevada (NRS 207.325) to make or cause to be made an unsolicited electronic or telephone transmission to a fax machine to solicit a person to purchase real property, goods or services, it is almost impossible to stop this type of activity. “Unfortunately, Nigerian government officials have not been cooperative with law enforcement agencies throughout the world in putting a stop to this illegal scam,” Del Papa said. “Nevadans should beware of this decades-old scam, as they should any so-called deal that sounds too good to be true.” Key signals to look for when confronted by an offer such as this are: • A stranger contacts you via mail, telephone, fax or email offering to share a large amount of money with you. • The stranger is usually someone from out of state or out of the country. --more— • The stranger tells you that little or no effort is required on your part to collect the money. • The stranger tells you that you must first send him money before you can collect. • The stranger tells you that secrecy is important. Complaints regarding this scam should be directed to: U.S. Secret Service Office 600 South Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89101 (702) 388-6571 If you believe someone may be perpetrating consumer fraud in Nevada, call the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection in Las Vegas at (702) 486-3420; in Reno at (775) 688-1818; or in Carson City at (775) 687-6300. Consumer protection information and complaint forms can be found on the Attorney General’s Web site at http://ag.state.nv.us. ### STATE OF NEVADA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 100 N. Carson Street Carson City, Nevada 89701-4717 FRANKIE SUE DEL PAPA Telephone (775) 684-1100 THOMAS M. PATTON Attorney General Fax (775) 684-1108 First Assistant Attorney General WEBSITE: http://ag.state.nv.us E-Mail: [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jacqueline Rombardo January 25, 2001 (775) 687-6300 x239 STATE OF NEVADA RECEIVES MORE THAN $100,000 AS A RESULT OF SETTLEMENT WITH NASDAQ DEALERS Carson City—Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa announced today that the State of Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) has received a check for $101,854 as the result of her Bureau of Consumer Protection’s participation in a multi-state investigation of various NASDAQ stock market dealers. Beginning in May 1994, multiple antitrust actions were filed against more than 30 NASDAQ market makers, alleging that the defendants conspired to increase and fix the spreads paid by investors in connection with the purchases and sales of securities. This practice allegedly caused investors to pay excessive transaction costs for purchases and sales of certain securities. Nevada’s participation resulted in the award to PERS, of which PERS Investment Officer Laura Wallace stated, “We sincerely appreciate the contribution of the Attorney General’s Office in assisting us in securing this settlement.” ### STATE OF NEVADA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUREAU OF CONSUMER PROTECTION 1000 East William Street, Suite 200 Carson City, Nevada 89701 Telephone (775) 687-6300 FRANKIE SUE DEL PAPA TIMOTHY D. HAY Attorney General Fax (775) 687-6304 Chief Deputy Attorney General WEBSITE: http://ag.state.nv.us e-mail: [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Timothy Hay January 24, 2001 (775) 687-6300 NEVADA CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO INFORM NATIONAL AARP STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ON WESTERN ENERGY ISSUES Carson City, Nevada – State Consumer Advocate Timothy Hay will present Nevada’s energy viewpoint to AARP’s national Utilities Issues Training in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 26, 2001. The topic is “Electric Utility Restructuring: What’s Really Happening Out There.” The training prepares AARP’s national staff and local volunteers to address federal and state legislative developments which may affect the budgets of AARP members nationwide. “I am pleased to be able to tell Nevada’s energy story and strategy to this group,” Hay said. “With so much attention being paid to the California energy crisis, this is an opportunity for Nevada to gain support for a proactive approach to improve our situation and perhaps help other states as they face these difficult issues.” “Concepts such as preserving ownership of our low-cost energy resources and using them to establish a Basic Affordability Rate for Nevada’s consumers are the types of approaches that my office is advocating. Attorney General Del Papa views the western energy issues as some of the most difficult our region has faced and a proper approach to them will be critical to the lives of our citizens – especially seniors – and the continued health and development of our economy. She has asked my staff to devote all available resources to these efforts at this critical time, including a strong emphasis on developing Nevada’s abundant renewable energy resources and assistance to those consumers who simply cannot afford the rapid rise in energy prices we are now experiencing.” Hay served as a member of Governor Kenny Guinn’s energy policy committee that recently submitted recommendations to the Governor on energy issues. ### "Protecting Citizens, Solving Problems, Making Government Work" STATE OF NEVADA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUREAU OF CONSUMER PROTECTION 1000 East William Street, Suite 200 Carson City, Nevada 89701 Telephone (775) 687-6300 FRANKIE SUE DEL PAPA TIMOTHY D. HAY Attorney General Fax (775) 687-6304 Chief Deputy Attorney General WEBSITE: http://ag.state.nv.us e-mail: [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Timothy Hay January 24, 2001 (775) 687-6300 NEVADA CONSUMER ADVOCATE FORMALLY REQUESTS MORATORIUM ON POWER PLANT SALES Carson City, Nevada – State Consumer Advocate Timothy Hay filed a petition today with the Public Utilities Commission calling for an immediate moratorium on the sales of Nevada’s generating plants pending a review by the Commission and interested parties to determine if such sales remain in the public interest.