The New Hampshire Attorney General, John M. Formella, is emphasizing the importance of vigilance against scams as the state observes National “Slam the Scam” Day on March 5. This initiative focuses on educating consumers to help them identify and steer clear of fraudulent activities.

The Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the New Hampshire Department of Justice has noted a significant rise in the frequency and complexity of scams that affect various groups, including seniors, families, small businesses, and governmental entities. Formella highlighted that scammers are utilizing increasingly advanced tactics to deceive individuals. He encourages residents to be careful, remain skeptical, and refrain from sharing financial or personal details with anyone who makes unexpected contact.

To bolster defenses against fraud, officials have laid out five key signs that individuals should be conscious of. Among these are unexpected communications that create a sense of urgency, requests to change cash into cryptocurrency or gift cards, and inquiries for payments or personal details via phone calls, texts, or emails. There are additional cautions regarding links from unknown sources and common threats employed by scammers to intimidate victims, such as potential arrests or financial repercussions.

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission reported that scams resulted in over $12.5 billion in losses for Americans, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. Investment-related scams alone accounted for more than $5.7 billion in losses, with imposter scams contributing nearly $2.95 billion to that total.

State authorities advise locals to immediately hang up on any suspicious callers, delete obscure messages, and confirm any unusual requests for financial or personal information before taking action. Reports of suspected fraud can be made through the FTC’s online fraud reporting platform, while residents can contact the New Hampshire Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454 or fill out an online complaint form.