State officials are warning residents of scams as the holidays arrive.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley this week said evolving technology makes scams more sophisticated than ever before.
He said there were about 82,000 complaints heard at the consumer division in South Dakota.
"We moved forward on a lot of criminal cases. We had the recent sentencing of the California man in Chamberlain that had defrauded a South Dakotan of about $472,000 in a Bitcoin investigation scam," he said.
Jackley said it’s okay to ask for help when it comes to staying safe online.
“If you have a question, talk to a loved one or contact your Attorney General," Jackley said. "We have a division made up of investigators and lawyers that are there to help the public and try to prevent bad things from happening.”
According to AARP, Americans lost $47 billion to identity fraud and scams in 2024 alone.
Meanwhile, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is sharing tips for a scam-free holiday season, since she said scammers are working hard to take advantage of people.
Now that many Black Friday sales run all month long, it’s also an active time for scams, she said.
“Scammers are looking to prey on Iowans’ generosity and those looking for good deals. It’s important to watch out for deals that seem too good to be true and know who you are giving to,” Bird said, in a release.
Some tips from Bird include:
*Double check websites. Many scammers create websites identical to well-known retailers with deals too good to pass up. These websites can even pop-up on your social media. Check for spelling errors in the web address, look at reviews, and review a company’s contact info to ensure it’s a legitimate company.
*Watch out for “exclusive deal” emails or texts. Don’t click on suspicious links from unknown senders. Many scammers are looking for a way to gather your private information. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
* Beware of “order confirmation” or “failed delivery” scams. Scammers will send phishing texts or emails alerting you to a supposed problem with delivery and request your personal information to receive your order. Never send your private information to an unverified source.
* Research causes and organizations. Search online for the name of the organization or cause with words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See if others have had good or bad experiences with the charity. Scammers will pick names or use website addresses that sound very similar to legitimate well-known charities.
* Use a credit card, which an offer stronger scam protection than debit cards and can prevent large financial losses.
Those targeted by a scam can contact the Iowa Attorney General’s office at 1-888-777-4590 or file a complaint online: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint.
