January 2023 Last month, people in North Carolina experienced dangerously cold temperatures. The freeze left thousands of people without power, some struggling to keep warm. Sadly, scammers look to leverage crises like that to take advantage of you. Watch out for common signs of scams and fraud to keep you and your family safe and […]
Category: Columns
December 2022 For people across North Carolina, we are in the season of giving. But for others, it’s the season of stealing. Criminals use the holidays to take advantage of people’s goodwill to take their money and personal information. They target vulnerable people and use common holiday activities and stressors as a ploy to trick […]
November 2022 Each holiday season, people in North Carolina give generously in their communities through charitable donations. Unfortunately, my office sees an increase in charity scam complaints during the holidays. When you donate your money, you want to know that it will go to help others, not line some scammer’s pockets. Give to the charities […]
Attorney General Josh Stein October 2022 The opioid epidemic has left a trail of death and destruction in its wake all across North Carolina, and too many families have experienced tragic loss. Since I was sworn into my first term as your Attorney General in 2017, I have made confronting this epidemic my top priority. […]
Attorney General Josh Stein October 2022 Scammers often use scare tactics to trick their victims into handing over their money or personal information. In imposter scams, criminals pretend to represent a government agency, law enforcement, a company, or even a family member. These scams use threats of legal consequences or arrest to make you act […]
September 2022 When people take out student loans, they’re investing in their future – and their success makes all our communities stronger. That’s why I work hard to protect student borrowers and have taken loan servicers and for-profit colleges to court when they’ve illegally taken advantage of student borrowers. In total, my office has won […]
Attorney General Josh Stein August 2022 As our children go back to school, there’s nothing more important than keeping them safe whether in person or online. Technology and internet access offer new avenues for students to learn and engage in the classroom, but our increasingly online environment poses risks for children’s mental health and safety. […]
Avoid natural disaster scams this hurricane season Attorney General Josh Stein July 2022 The summer months are a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy all the beauty North Carolina has to offer. But summer is also the start of hurricane season, which begins in June and continues through November. We’re predicted to have another […]
Steer Clear of Home Repair Scams this Summer Attorney General Josh Stein June 2022 Summers can be a great time to make home repairs and improvements. But this summer, contractors may need to raise their prices to keep up with higher costs from supply chain issues and worker shortages. Reliable and trustworthy contractors will raise […]
Scammers Target Consumers with Cryptocurrency Scams Attorney General Josh Stein May 2022 Scammers are always looking for what’s new and popular to strike the unsuspecting. Cryptocurrency is no exception. Scammers prey on people’s unfamiliarity with and excitement about this new product to trick victims into making a poor financial decision in a variety of different […]