MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Scams are on the rise in Vermont.
The state’s Consumer Assistance Program says over the past year, Vermonters have lost about $1.7 million in scams reported to their office. Of the more than 3,200 scams reported last year, the top ten were:
- Computer scams
- Phishing for financial information
- Imposter law enforcement scams
- Medicare card scams
- Identity theft
- Sweepstakes and lotteries
- Fake websites
- Family emergency imposters
- Solicitations
- A new scam targeted at local businesses called “rewards credit”
Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark urges Vermonter to be cautious online. “This is really a part of life now. You’re going to keep getting emails that someone is trying to get into your account — because this is just going to keep happening. Although, that is a sign for you, for all of us to have two-factor authentification, to make sure we are using all the tools available to us to protect ourselves — we are changing our passwords.”
If you think you’ve been scammed, you can report it to the Consumer Assistance Program.