The West Virginia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division is committed to keeping West Virginians informed about the latest scams targeting our communities. The Attorney General’s Office recently launched a new, updated website. There, you can find information on scams, including the top scams reported each month.
For the month of March, the Consumer Protection Division received 314 scam complaints.
The top 5 scams reported:
1) Medicare Scams
2) Robo Calls (Final Funeral Expenses, Loans, etc.)
3) Phishing/Computer Scams
4) Credit Card Scams (Posing as credit card companies claiming that there were purchases made on the consumer’s credit cards.)
5) Grandparent Scams
There has also been a rise in the use of artificial intelligence in scams, particularly the use of voice cloning, deepfake videos and images, AI-powered phishing and predictive targeting and chatbots. One consumer reported the voice of a scammer sounded exactly like her grandson, but it wasn’t him. Another consumer reported to our office an online advertisement for social security benefits using the likeness of President Trump and RFK Jr. The ad was a deepfake and has been removed.
“With the emergence of new technology, it is more important now than ever to be vigilant and careful,” West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey said. “Our office is always here to help consumers who have fallen for scams, and we encourage people to report scams to us so that we can obtain more details and warn others.”
Ways to protect yourself
• Be aware that criminals can "spoof" phone numbers - Your caller ID may show familiar numbers that aren't actually calling
• Hang up and call back using numbers you have on file if calls seem suspicious, don't engage with callers
• Be wary of any contest winnings, especially if you didn’t enter
• Research before you trust - Verify identities, companies, and claims independently
• Keep detailed records - Document all interactions with service providers and financial transaction
What not to do
• Never provide personal or financial information over the phone - to unsolicited callers
• Never pay anyone with gift cards - Legitimate companies don't accept gift cards as payment
• Never pay money to claim prizes - Real contests don't require payment
• Never send money to people you haven't met in person - This includes online romantic interests
• Don't handle money transfers for strangers - You could unknowingly participate in money laundering
• Never accept or forward packages for online acquaintances - This may involve illegal activity
You can find out more about scams, ways to protect yourself, and file a scam report at ago.wv.gov. You can also call our Consumer Protection Hotline and speak with our Scam Coordinator at 1-800-368-8808.