Attorney General Lynn Fitch has announced that Mississippi will be supporting 50 Attorneys General by joining a nationwide Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force.
According to Fitch, the task force will attempt to reduce the over 33 million scam robocalls made to Americans every day by taking legal action against the telecommunication companies responsible for bringing foreign robocalls into the U.S.
“Robocalls are an unwanted intrusion on our privacy and often the gateway to fraud,” Fitch explained. “I am committed to stopping illegal and unwanted calls. This nationwide effort will give bad actors nowhere to run and nowhere to hide their illegal activities.”
In 2021, an estimated $29.8 million dollars was stolen through scam calls including Social Security Administration fraud against seniors, Amazon scams against consumers, and more.
Fitch issued the following tips on how to recognize scam callers:
- Be wary of callers who specifically ask you to pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. For example, the Internal Revenue Service does not accept iTunes gift cards.
- Look out for prerecorded calls from imposters posing as government agencies. Typically, the Social Security Administration does not make phone calls to individuals.
- If you suspect fraudulent activity, immediately hang-up and do not provide any personal information.
“As always, an informed consumer is a scammer’s worst nightmare,” continued Fitch. “Please know the signs of a scam and be sure to report them to my office so we can take appropriate action, as well.”
To report a possible scam caller, contact the Consumer Protection Division at consumer@ago.ms.gov or file a consumer complaint form.
