As National Consumer Protection Week comes to a close, Attorney General Jay Jones has issued a reminder to Virginians about the risks of scams and how to avoid falling victim. The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
“Unfortunately, scammers are working every day to trick Virginians into turning over their money or their important personal information, such as financial account information or social security numbers,” said Attorney General Jones. “While the total amount of money taken by fraud is staggering, even a small amount of money lost to a scam can be devastating when paying monthly bills. To protect themselves, Virginians need to be alert to common scams and signs that someone is trying to pull one off.”
Attorney General Jones outlined several types of scams reported in Virginia:
– Government impostor scams: These involve individuals pretending to represent agencies like the IRS, using official-sounding language and sometimes spoofed caller ID or emails with government logos.
– Jury duty and toll violation scams: Scammers threaten arrest or fines for missed jury duty or unpaid tolls, often using fake documents and phone numbers.
– Utility impostor scams: Fraudsters may contact consumers by phone, email, text message, or even in person with fake identification from utility companies and threaten service disconnection unless immediate payment is made.
– Romance scams: Scammers create false online dating profiles and build relationships before requesting money through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
– Grandparent scams: Individuals pose as grandchildren in distress asking for emergency funds via calls or messages.
– Lottery and sweepstakes scams: Victims are told they have won prizes but must pay fees upfront to claim them.
– Gift card payment demands: Scammers request payments through gift cards under various pretexts.
Jones provided advice on recognizing these red flags and urged vigilance among residents.
The Office of the Attorney General offers consumer protection resources related to identity theft and fraud reporting. It also provides legal counsel for state agencies while promoting public safety across Virginia. More details about civil rights enforcement programs and other initiatives can be found on the official website.
The office addresses issues such as human trafficking and domestic violence through legal advocacy efforts statewide. The Attorney General serves all residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginians with questions or concerns regarding consumer matters are encouraged to contact the Consumer Protection Section at the Office of the Attorney General.
