Attorney general Josh Stein issued a warning of an influx of reports coming in about phone scams across the state.
A press release noted callers are claiming to represent North Carolina Department of Justice and other government agencies, as well as officials. Stein reminded that no government official will request personal information.
The AG office offered the following precautions:
- Don’t respond to text messages from unknown numbers who claim to represent the North Carolina Department of Justice or any other government agency.
- Do not send money or divulge personal information to unknown contacts – even if they say that they represent the government. If you’re unsure if someone is a legitimate government official, hang up and reach out to the government agency directly using a number listed on their website.
- Be skeptical of unknown callers who claim to represent a professional licensing board. If someone unfamiliar contacts you regarding your professional licensing, hang up, look up the board’s contact information and contact the licensing authority yourself.
- If you’re being asked to pay via gift card, it is always a scam.
- Look for red flags in messages from unfamiliar numbers or email addresses. Errors in spelling or grammar, an email that doesn’t match an agency’s government URL, vague subject lines, or pressure for immediate payment can indicate a message is a scam.
To report a scam, readers can click here or call or 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
Email tips or concerns to info@localdailymedia.com.
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