Scammers are posing as the Attorney General’s office to try and trick Arkansans into turning over personal information. According to the Attorney General’s office, they recently received reports of Arkansans receiving a phone call from a Utah phone number stating that the consumer needs to contact the Attorney General’s office to inquire about a legal account. This is a scam.
“These criminals know that their tactics have more credibility if they pretend to be Arkansas’s chief consumer advocate,” said Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “They think they can trick consumers into turning over personal and financial information, ultimately giving the scam artists access to personal accounts. If an Arkansan receives one of these suspicious calls, hang up and contact the Attorney General’s office at (800) 482-8982 or [email protected].”
Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips to help spot this scam and avoid falling victim:
- These agencies also do not seek or accept payment in pre-paid gift cards.
- If a consumer owes money, legitimate collectors must send a written validation notice.
- Do not confirm or provide personal or financial information to an unknown person over the phone or internet.
- If consumers file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office, they will receive an acknowledgement letter or email that contains a complaint number. That number would never be referred to as a legal account.
Keep in mind that con artists do not follow the law anyway, so they disregard the do-not-call registry. And technological advances allow for Call ID spoofing, so that scammers can disguise the source of the calls.
For more information and tips to avoid scams and other consumer-related issues, contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s office at (800) 482-8982 or [email protected] or visit ArkansasAG.gov or facebook.com/AGLeslieRutledge.