West Virginia (WOAY) The West Virginia Attorney General’s Office is warning residents about a rise in scams and the growing role of artificial intelligence in targeting victims.
The consumer protection division received more than 300 scam complaints in March alone.
Officials say the most commonly reported scams include Medicare scams, robocalls about funeral expenses or loans, phishing and computer scams, credit card fraud, and so-called “grandparent scams.”
Investigators are also seeing a troubling increase in artificial intelligence scams, like voice cloning, deepfake videos, and AI-powered phishing messages.
In one case, a scammer used technology to mimic a grandson’s voice.
In another case, a fake online ad used deepfake images of public figures to promote false social security benefits.
Attorney General JB McCuskey says with new technology evolving, it’s more important than ever to stay alert.
The attorney general’s office is urging residents to take steps to protect themselves, such as avoiding sharing personal information with unsolicited callers, hanging up on suspicious calls, dialing back verified numbers, and never sending money or gift cards to unknown individuals.
Officials also remind residents that if something sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
A new, updated website from the Attorney General’s office now offers the latest scam alerts, prevention tips, and resources for reporting fraud.
If you believe you’ve been targeted, you can report it online or call the consumer protection hotline at 1-800-368-8808.
