🚨 State AG Warns of Two New Scam Tactics: Government Impersonators and Video-Call Sweepstakes

OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT WARNING

Report date: September 4, 2026

Scam type: Government impersonation / insurance-and-subsidy fraud / sweepstakes and lottery impersonation / video-call scam

WHAT HAPPENED The West Virginia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division reported 401 scam complaints in August 2026 and warned consumers about two newly reported tactics. In one, scammers impersonate representatives of the State of West Virginia and offer insurance or other subsidies. In another, scammers use video-capable apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime to claim that a consumer has won a sweepstakes or lottery prize. The state warning says callers may spoof West Virginia telephone numbers to appear local and legitimate.

HOW THE GOVERNMENT-IMPERSONATION SCAM WORKS A scammer claims to represent a state government office or official and offers insurance, subsidies, benefits, or other assistance. The caller may use a spoofed local number to make the call appear to originate from the state. The goal is to gain trust and obtain personal information, financial information, or money. The Attorney General's office reported one consumer receiving approximately 70 calls from a scammer using spoofed West Virginia numbers.

HOW THE VIDEO-CALL SWEEPSTAKES SCAM WORKS The consumer receives an unexpected video call through an app such as WhatsApp or FaceTime and is told they have won a sweepstakes or lottery. The West Virginia Attorney General says reported calls often came from email addresses or unlisted numbers. Some consumers who answered reported that the scammer's video screen was black while the scammer could still see the consumer. The familiar look of a video call can create a false sense that the caller is more legitimate than a voice-only scammer.

WHO IS BEING TARGETED The government-impersonation tactic was reported against West Virginia consumers, but the underlying method can be used anywhere: scammers can impersonate state or local officials, spoof local phone numbers, and offer benefits or subsidies that sound plausible. Sweepstakes and lottery scams can target any consumer, especially people who respond to unexpected prize claims or feel reassured by a video-call format.

WARNING SIGNS • An unexpected caller claims to represent a state or local government office and offers insurance, subsidies, benefits, or financial assistance. • Caller ID shows a familiar or local number, but the caller asks for personal or financial information. • You are told you won a sweepstakes, lottery, or prize that you do not remember entering. • A prize caller asks for money, gift cards, taxes, fees, shipping costs, or financial information before releasing winnings. • A video caller keeps their camera black or obscured while asking you to remain visible. • The caller pressures you to act immediately or discourages you from independently verifying the claim.

WHAT CONSUMERS SHOULD DO Do not trust caller ID by itself; phone numbers can be spoofed. If someone claims to represent a government office, hang up and contact the agency using a phone number or website you find independently. Do not provide Social Security, Medicare, banking, or other sensitive information to an unsolicited caller. If someone claims you won a prize, remember that legitimate sweepstakes do not require you to pay to receive your winnings. Do not send gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, cash, or other payments to claim a supposed prize. If an unexpected video call feels suspicious, end the call rather than continuing to engage.

WHY THIS DEVELOPMENT MATTERS These tactics combine old scam themes with newer trust signals. A spoofed local number can make a government impersonator look familiar, while a video call can feel more personal and legitimate than an ordinary robocall. Neither signal proves who is really on the other end. Independent verification remains the safest response.

SOURCE ATTRIBUTION Primary official source: Office of the West Virginia Attorney General, 'Attorney General McCuskey Warns consumers of new scam tactics Targeting West Virginians,' September 4, 2026. https://ago.wv.gov/article/attorney-general-mccuskey-warns-consumers-new-scam-tactics-targeting-west-virginians Additional official guidance: Federal Trade Commission, 'How To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam.' https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam Federal Trade Commission, 'That random call saying “you’ve won a prize” is a scam,' March 2026. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/03/random-call-saying-youve-won-prize-scam

AIGISHIELD ASSESSMENT This qualifies as an Official Government Warning because the new tactics were reported directly by a state attorney general's consumer-protection office. The specific reports are from West Virginia, but the defensive lessons apply broadly: caller ID can be spoofed, government identities can be impersonated, and video calling does not prove a prize claim is legitimate.

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