GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. (KGUN) – With Arizona elder fraud cases increased 36% from 2022 to 2023Green Valley residents gathered today at the Desert Hills Green Valley Recreation Center for Enforcement Day, an event hosted by the Green Valley Council.

The council invited the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s Financial Crimes and Fraud Division to deliver a conference (PCSD) aimed at arming the community against the latest scams.

Green Valley, known for its large retirement population, has become a prime target for scamswhich makes the need for awareness and prevention all the more urgent.

PCSD’s Financial Crimes and Fraud Unit delivered an informative presentation that exposed the range of scams targeting residents, including new schemes involving voice cloning, number spoofing and romance scams, which have become one of the most widespread types of fraud in the region.

Detective Tyler Rivas of the PCSD Financial Crimes Unit noted the global reach of these scams.

“These people who are committing these scams can now be found in every part of the world,” Rivas said. “We just want to raise awareness and try to avoid any kind of scam and becoming a victim.”

Green Valley resident Mary Lehman shared her experiences with these incessant scam attempts, highlighting the emotional toll of receiving multiple scam calls daily.

“I’ve now been contacted five times to say I’m the winner of the Publisher’s Clearinghouse lottery,” Lehman said with a laugh. “I receive ten to twelve calls a day. It’s a terrible way to live. »

She’s not the only one who feels targeted. Green Valley Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers (SAV) assist local law enforcement in the area and often hear about these scams as they evolve, most involving credit card and checking account fraud.

The organization decided Scam squad to eradicate these various scams in the region.

Chuck Carter, director of business relations for the Green Valley Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers, noted the frequency of scam reports.

“There are usually two or three attempts a day that people call to report,” Carter said. “From phone scam attempts to cases where they actually accessed people’s checking accounts.”

The presentation also featured a demonstration of voice cloning by asking a participant to read a story, with their voice used to form a fake voice message claiming they needed money from the recipient. The PCSD demonstration was intended to show how family members’ voices can be used to deceive unsuspecting victims.

The issue of AI, such as using popular tools like ChatGPT to concoct fake stories that attempt to establish a relationship with the targeted people.

PCSD officers provided practical advice, advising residents to remain skeptical of unsolicited emails, especially those claiming to be from government agencies, and to watch out for red flags.

The Fight Fraud Day event is part of PCSD’s broader efforts to equip vulnerable community members with fraud prevention strategies. The department regularly offers similar workshops at churches, businesses and other community groups across the county.

For those interested in hosting a fraud prevention workshop or learning more, visit the Pima County Sheriff’s Department website. Financial Crime and Fraud Website or contact PCSD at 520-351-3000 or email [email protected].