CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is joining an array of government, non-profit and private organizations to raise public awareness about widespread and emerging scams during National Consumer Protection Week.
“National Consumer Protection Week is an opportunity to join forces with public and private agencies in amplifying the message against sinister scams and educating the public on how to identify scams and avoid falling prey to scammers,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The best way to protect yourself is to learn how to spot a scam and what to do if you are contacted by a scammer. We also encourage everyone to report suspected fraudulent schemes to help us track emerging scams and warn others.”
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2021, North Carolinians submitted more than 64,000 fraud reports totaling $93 million in losses, compared to $74 million in 2020. The top fraud categories reported involved imposters scams, online shopping, sweepstakes and lotteries, and internet services, among others.
Spotting the four signs of a scam can stop consumers from falling victims to one. The signs are:
- Fraudsters pretend to be affiliated with a widely known organization, like a government entity, a law enforcement agency, a utility company, or a charity.
- Scammers claim there is an imminent problem that requires immediate attention. For example, they claim you or a loved one are in legal or…
