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Attorney General warns of fake COVID-19 texts

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey alerted consumers to a text messaging scam that seeks to take advantage of efforts to identify and isolate those who have potentially been exposed to COVID-19.

The scam involves unsolicited text messages from a supposed contact tracer. The scammer may impersonate a state or local health department and urge the text message recipient to click on a link for more information.

Those who click on the phony link expose their phone or other device to malware and the potential theft of sensitive information.

“Scammers never cease to find new ways to steal from consumers,” Morrisey said. “Consumers must remain ever vigilant and protect their personal, identifiable information. Never click on an unfamiliar link and never share information without verifying who is on the other end.”

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