8 ON YOUR SIDE CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General Steve Marshall warns of several phone scams
8 ON YOUR SIDE CONSUMER ALERT: Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is warning you to watch out for sophisticated phone scams targeting people across the state.
Marshall says scammers are using deception to trick people into sending money, purchasing gift cards or making cryptocurrency transactions.
Here’s a list of several scams spreading across Alabama:
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- Computer and Tech Support Scams – Fraudsters pose as tech support from well-known companies, falsely claiming your computer has a virus and requesting remote access or payment.
- Sweepstakes & Lottery Scams – Victims are told they have won a prize but must pay fees or taxes upfront to claim their winnings.
- Cryptocurrency and Gift Card Scams – Fraudsters instruct victims to deposit money into Bitcoin kiosks or purchase gift cards as payment—common red flags for scams.
- Toll Scams – Scammers send fraudulent text messages claiming the recipient owes unpaid toll fees, attempting to trick them into making immediate payments. Most cities mail official toll notices to the registered vehicle owner after capturing a photo of the car and license plate.
- Jury Duty Scams – Fraudsters call victims, falsely claiming they missed jury duty and must pay a fine immediately over the phone to avoid an arrest warrant. Legitimate jury duty notifications and fines are never handled this way.
Attorney General Marshall advises Alabamians to follow these safety tips:
Hang up if a caller pressures you to act immediately or requests unusual payment methods.
Never give personal information (Social Security number, banking details, or passwords) over the phone.
Verify the caller by contacting the company or agency directly using an official phone number.
Do not allow remote access to your computer unless you initiated contact with a trusted company.
For more information on avoiding scams, visit https://www.alabamaag.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-5658.
