Latest News, Uncategorized, WVPA Sharing

AG Morrisey warns of post-holiday scammings

By DANYEL VANREENAN

The Journal

CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — Now that the holidays are over, many West Virginians will be looking for ways to recover from holiday expenses.

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is warning West Virginians of potential employment scams posing as money-making opportunities. Morrisey urged the public to research any potential employer before applying to ensure it’s a legitimate company.

“The post-holiday season can be a time when consumers try to recoup expenses incurred,” Attorney General Morrisey said in a press release. “That often means looking for additional employment, but those interested must proceed with caution. Do your research, check the Internet and call our office with any questions.”

Morrisey said certain words, phrases and opportunities should be approached with caution. For example, advertisements for work-at-home positions may raise a red flag. While work-at-home positions are appealing and generate desired income, scammers tend to masquerade behind such attractive opportunities.

Morrisey recommends extensively researching jobs with generic titles and descriptions. He said checking a company’s website or calling to verify the position are two ways of protecting consumers from scams.

Any company immediately asking for personal information or bank account information should be treated with caution as well, according to Morrisey. Some scammers work under the premise of setting up a direct deposit or covering training costs, Morrisey said.

Morrisey’s office said it believes this statement was released at an appropriate time of year to make people aware of potential scams and dangers.

The press release advises anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a fraudulent job posting or who wishes to report a suspicious listing should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-368-8808 or visit www.wvago.gov.

See more from The Journal

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

And get our latest content in your inbox

Invalid email address