WASHINGTON – In the last few weeks, Barbara Jewell-Potter has received several messages, claiming to be from healthcare.gov.
The messages, telling Barbara to make an account, and select a healthcare plan.
“You know anyone could think, well. maybe this is just part of all the changes,” Barbara said.
She explained the the recent upheaval on the federal level, could easily make someone click an unsuspecting link.
But Barbara didn’t click the link. Instead, she reached out to NonStop Local.
We did an investigation, and even a quick google search reveals these text messages could have unofficial origins, with results reading, “these messages are likely scams, as official government agencies like the Health Insurance Marketplace do not send unsolicited text messages.”
Still, if you aren’t familiar with the organization, Barbara says these scam texts, could be convincing.
“It looks so real, it says .gov on it,” Barbara said.
But in Washington, scams aren’t limited to texts.
In 2025 alone, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported nearly 30,000 instances of fraud in Washington.
The most reports come from those aged 60-69, with nearly 4,000 cases. However, the age group with the largest median monetary loss is those aged 80 and over.
Despite this, every age range has lost money to scams. Across all ages, Washington has lost more than $75 million to scams.
Tactics used by scammers vary, with the FTC reporting the most common scam in Washington being government impersonation.
Mark Gregory from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office explained that calls impersonating government officials usually involve claims that the victim has done something wrong, such as skipping jury duty or having their car impounded. The caller then demands money, often keeping the victim on the line while they provide personal information and wire money.
Paul Benda, an Executive Vice President for the American Bankers Association, gave a presentation to Washington’s House Consumer and Business. He explained that trust also plays a huge role in why people fall for common scams.
“What we’ve done is created an ecosystem that allows people to get digitally authenticated,” Benda said.
But its not just scam texts and phone calls. Benda also explains that new scams are cropping up, especially in the Social Media space.
“We’re seeing the same thing from the social media side of things,” Benda said.
So how can people protect themselves from scams?
The FTC says its it’s essential to take a break, hang up, and do a Google search. Government agencies typically do not demand immediate action.
For other scams, avoid giving out personal information over the phone, text message or email. They also say to keep in mind that trusted organizations usually reach out in consistent ways.
If you suspect a scam, ask questions and verify the authenticity, just like Barbara.
“Just don’t click on anything,” Barbara said.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s office also keeps an updated list of popular scams on their website.
