The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – Authorities are warning residents across Covington and all Alleghany County about a surge in sophisticated phone scams that increasingly use advanced technology to trick unsuspecting victims into surrendering money and personal information. Local law enforcement reports that scammers have become more cunning, employing fear-based tactics and leveraging innovative artificial intelligence to create
increasingly convincing fraudulent communications.
One type of scam targeting the Alleghany Highlands recently is “toll scams,” where scammers impersonate toll agencies and trick people into revealing financial information or paying fake debts. These scams often involve texts claiming you have unpaid tolls and including links to fake websites. “These aren’t your typical scam calls anymore,” said Covington police chief Christopher Smith. “Scammers are now using Artificial Intelligence to sound more legitimate and create more persuasive schemes.” The most prevalent scams include impersonations of trusted entities such as government agencies, utility companies, and law enforcement.
Fraudsters frequently threaten legal action, utility service disconnection, or arrest to pressure victims into immediate payment. A particularly alarming trend involves AI-powered scams that use deep fake technology. The FBI reports a staggering 1,500% increase in deep fake-related crimes from the Asia-Pacific region from 2022 to 2023.
Scammers are employing multiple sophisticated techniques, including:
Caller ID spoofing to appear as local numbers.
AI-generated voices mimicking official representatives.
Fabricated threats of legal action.
Promises of fake prizes or investments.
The Federal Trade Commission revealed that in 2023, 20% of people targeted by imposter scams lost money, with an average loss of $800.
Government impostor scams have become especially devastating recently, with losses reaching the millions in the last quarter of 2024. Particularly concerning scams are emerging targeting the most vulnerable in a population, particularly children and teens. These scams have become increasingly prevalent, with criminals using social media and messaging platforms to manipulate young victims. Cryptocurrency and online purchase scams continue to pose significant risks. The Better Business Bureau identified these as the riskiest scam types, with over 80% of targeted individuals reporting financial losses. Local authorities offer several key recommendations to protect against these sophisticated scams:
Never provide personal information over unsolicited phone calls.
Verify the legitimacy of any unexpected communication.
Hang up and contact the organization directly using official contact information.
Be skeptical of urgent or threatening messages.
Use credit cards for online purchases to limit potential losses.
Enable multi-factor authentication with non-SMS options.
The FBI emphasizes that legitimate government agencies will never threaten arrest via phone or email, request money via wire transfer, or ask for your help to catch criminals by giving them your personal information or funds.
Technological advances have made scams more complex, with artificial intelligence enabling increasingly convincing fraudulent communications. Scammers now use AI to generate realistic text, images, and even fake videos to appear more credible.
“If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Chief Smith warned. “Always take time to verify unexpected communications, no matter how official they might seem.” Residents are encouraged to report suspicious calls to local law enforcement and share information with friends and family to prevent potential fraud.
The global fiscal impact of these frauds is staggering. The investigators with AARP report that over $47 billion was lost to scammers in 2024 alone, highlighting the critical need for public awareness and vigilance. Residents can contact the Covington Police Department or the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office for additional guidance on protecting themselves from these evolving frauds. As technology advances, experts predict scammers will develop even more sophisticated methods.
Staying informed, skeptical, and proactive remains the best defense against these increasingly complex fraudulent schemes.
