West Virginia (WOAY) Thursday, March 5, is National Slam the Scam Day, and Attorney General J. B. McCuskey is reminding West Virginians to stay alert for fraud.
The Attorney General’s Office says federal, state, and local partners are working together to help protect consumers from scams.
The Federal Trade Commission reports Americans lost more than $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, a 25% increase from the year prior.
Investment scams accounted for more than $5.7 billion, while imposter scams cost consumers nearly 3 billion.
So far this year, 460 scams have been reported in West Virginia, with the most common involving robocalls, Medicare or healthcare, sweepstakes or lottery offers, loans, and Social Security scams.
Officials also warn about newer tactics like SIM swapping, AI voice cloning, and long-term investment schemes known as “pig butchering.”
McCuskey says if you get an unexpected call, text, or email, even if it looks legitimate, take time to verify it before sharing personal or financial information.
Officials say you can report scams to the Attorney General’s Office or the Federal Trade Commission.
