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CHARLESTON - Offers for additional Medicare benefits was among the top scams reported in September to the Consumer Protection Division of the West Virginia attorney general.
The division received 226 scam complaints in September. The top five were:
Medicare - Offering grocery, food vouchers or cards, additional benefits or inquiring if the consumer has Medicare Parts A & B
Robo call - Loan approval, final funeral expenses and extended warranty, among others
Social Security - Posing as the Social Security Administration offering an increase in benefits or stating there are issues with their social security benefits
Sweepstakes and lottery - Consumers have reported scammers are posing as representatives of Mega Millions, Publisher’s Clearing House or the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, claiming the victims have won money
Promotion and disconnection - Posing as service providers offering promotional discounts or service disconnection for unpaid bills
The division recommends the following ways to protect against scams:
Criminals can "spoof" phone numbers. A caller ID may show familiar numbers that aren’t actually calling
Suspect any contest winnings, especially if the contest was not entered.
Hang up and call back using numbers on file if calls seem suspicious. Don't engage with callers
Keep detailed records. Document all interactions with service providers and financial transactions.
Research before trust. Independently verify identities, companies and claims.
What not to do:
Don’t handle money transfers for strangers to prevent unknowingly participating in money laundering
Never accept or forward packages for online acquaintances. This may involve illegal activity
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 provide personal or financial information over the phone to unsolicited callers
Never send money to strangers, including online romantic interests.
For more information about scams, ways to protect and file a scam report, go to ago.wv.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline and speak with the scam coordinator at 1-800-368-8808.