The Attorney General in West Virginia is warning foster families to be aware of a possible scam targeting foster children.

According to a statement from the office of West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the office was made aware of a possible scam late last week of a suspected imposter attempting to obtain the Social Security numbers of “multiple foster children.”

“The impostor claimed to represent Aetna Better Health of West Virginia and its Mountain Health Promise program, which contracts with the state Department of Health and Human Resources to assist foster families throughout the state,” Morrisey’s office said.

In the statement, Morrisey urged West Virginians to “think twice before giving sensitive information to a stranger.”

Morrisey’s office said, “Neither the Department of Health and Human Resources nor Aetna will ask for a child’s Social Security number via an unsolicited phone call.”

Morrisey’s office said consumers should never share personal, identifiable, financial or otherwise sensitive information without verifying the legitimacy of the recipient, including sending cash, wiring money or providing numbers associated with credit and debit cards and bank accounts.

Any West Virginian who believes they may have fallen victim to a scam is urged to contact Morrisey’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-368-8808, or online, at, www.wvago.gov.

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