CHARLESTON — Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office is warning consumers about a scam in which callers contact consumers with the offer of lower credit card interest rates.
A press release says the AG's office has received numerous calls over the past week from consumers who allege scammers use Caller ID spoofing to show a 304 area code. This manipulates the consumers’ Caller ID to make it appear as though the number is coming from a legitimate source.
The scammer preys upon that comfort and trust to take the consumers’ personal information.
“Scammers are relentless in their quest to gather personal information for unscrupulous reasons,” Morrisey said. “It’s important to always exercise caution when giving out such personal information.”
Morrisey's office reminds residents there are some things consumers can do to ensure their information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands:
* Do not answer calls from unrecognizable numbers;
* Don’t share credit card numbers or other personal information with anyone who calls out of the blue.
Those who believe they have been the victim of this scam or any other scam are asked to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-368-8808 or visit the office online at www.wvago.gov.
Also, consumers can stay up to date with the latest scams by signing up for email alerts from the AG's office at http://bit.ly/WVScamAlert.