Scam calls surge in Louisiana with over 50 million targeting residents in December

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana residents received over 50 million scam calls in December, according to new statistics from the spam blocking app TrueCaller, showcasing an alarming increase in unwanted calls month by month.

The app identified over 2.5 billion spam calls nationwide in December, with Louisiana residents specifically targeted by over 58 million scam calls and over 3 million scam texts during the month.

“It’s insane, so I don’t get my number out anymore,” said Peter Simon, a local shopper.

Technology makes scams more sophisticated

Carmen Million with the Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana said new technology and artificial intelligence make it easier for scammers to contact consumers.

“Technology is with us. And where we could tell consumers where to look out, what warning signs to look out for these scams, you know, the new AI has made it easier for these scammers to make it look really valid. And it can dupe some consumers into believing that they’re a legitimate cause when in case it’s a scam,” Million said.

Scammers use various tactics to trick people and steal information, money, and focus from their targets.

“There was one, like, cruises for a lot. And then there was a lot of political ones that were surprising,” Simon said.

Patricia Martinez, another shopper, expressed concern about vulnerable populations.

“I have senior parents, too, that I feel are all so vulnerable to AI, and I see it really prevalent in social media spaces as well. So, it can create a lot of disinformation,” Martinez said.

How to avoid scam calls

The main goal is authenticity and verifying what the caller claims to represent. If a scammer claims to be from a government agency or organization, consumers should check directly with that organization or agency to see if the claims are true.

“I would tell everyone, like, take me off your list. And they were, I don’t know if that helped, but they stopped calling, so,” Simon said.

Martinez recommended researching suspicious calls online.

“I would always go and Google the sources to see if other people have spoken out about them. Social media is a great place to see where other people have maybe had these issues,” she said.

Million advised consumers to be skeptical of all unsolicited calls.

“Automatically assume it’s not valid. Investigate. And always do your homework,” she said.

The Better Business Bureau tracks scams and encourages consumers to report them anonymously on their website’s scam tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker. Million said many consumers hesitate to report scams due to embarrassment, making the anonymous reporting option vital for gathering information.

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