This was the most common scam across NC in 2023, BBB says
Note: The accompanying video shows the BBB’s warning of grandparent scams, where the scammer pretends to be a family member
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Throughout 2023, North Carolinians fell victim to multiple types of scams.
Some of these scams include fake law enforcement calls, bank scams and grandparent scams.
Pittsboro couple out $5,000 in ‘grandparent scam’ as new twist on ripoff emerges, officials warn
The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Carolinas released a new report called 2023 Top 5 Scams Reported in Eastern Carolinas.
The new report breaks down last year’s most common scams in our area.
1. Online purchasing scams
The BBB said online purchasing scams were “by far” the most common scam in North Carolina in 2023.
According to the BBB, 498 people fell victim to these types of scams last year.
About the same amount of people fell victim to these scams the year prior, showing that scammers are working to keep up the momentum. This was also the most common scam of 2022.
The scam usually involves purchases and sales on classified websites and other direct seller-to-buyer websites.
Examples of these scams include pet adoption, online shopping and social media advertising.
Experts said scammers may pretend to buy an item from you, then send you a bogus check and ask you to refund the ‘accidental’ overpayment.
They said scammers can pretend to be sellers as well, and never deliver the goods.
One victim in our area shared their experience on the BBB Scam Tracker, according to the BBB of Eastern Carolinas.
“I ordered custom pet pajamas and never received the product. When I contacted the company, no one responded,” the victim said. “I tried three different times to reach out to customer service, and have not heard from anyone. My bank account was charged and I never received the item I ordered.”
2. Employment scams
According to the BBB of Eastern Carolinas’ scam tracker, 196 people fell victim to employment scams in 2023.
Experts said these scammers advertise jobs online or on social media, or reach out to people who have posted resumes on job boards.
“They also may involve reshipping goods purchased with stolen credit cards,” they said.
Other types of employment scams promise jobs but provide victims with counterfeit checks, asking them to send money to a supposed third party for equipment to perform the job.
3. Phishing scams
Phishing scams were also among the most common scams in 2023, according to the BBB of Eastern Carolinas.
The BBB reported that 135 people in our area fell victim to these types of scams over the past year.
Experts warn that these types of scammers are looking to steal your identity.
They said people should beware of any unsolicited or unexpected communications asking for personal information, or telling you to download an attachment.
These scammers are “phishing” for your Social Security number, passwords, credit card information or other personal details, the BBB explained.
A victim in our area recently reported their experience to the BBB’s Scam Tracker.
“The person calls and says there has been suspicious activity on your Amazon account, charges made in another state (we don’t have an Amazon account), and to clear the charge he will need your bank’s routing number and your account number,” the victim explained.
Click here to learn more about phishing scams from the BBB.
4. Counterfeit product scams
Two dozen people in our area fell victim to counterfeit product scams in 2023, the BBB of Eastern Carolinas reports.
“It’s hard to resist a great bargain, especially on luxury goods and other high-priced items,” BBB experts explained. “But when it comes to counterfeit merchandise, consumers get scammed in a myriad of ways.”
Experts said counterfeit products are rarely of the same quality as the original.
In this scam, they said scammers will steal from designers and innovators who create the original work, and take business away from honest retailers.
They will also reduce tax revenue.
In some of these scams, the BBB says counterfeit goods finance illegal activities and can even exploit child labor.
5. Investment scams
Investment scammers take advantage of people’s desire to make money without much risk or initial funding, BBB experts said.
They said 21 people in our area reported falling victim to these types of scams last year.
According to the BBB of Eastern Carolinas, the scams are often complex cons involving detailed stories, and it can sometimes last years to realize you have been scammed.
“Even savvy investors fall for investment scams,” experts explained. “Con artists are masters of persuasion, and they often learn the weaknesses of their targets and tailor their pitches accordingly.
One victim shared their story after seeing a post online advertising an investment opportunity.
The victims said they bought into it, paying several ‘fees’ before realizing it was a scam.
“They try to stop communication by acting upset and try to make you feel bad because you don’t trust them,” the victim said. “As long as you keep communicating, they will communicate reiterating, ‘this is the final fee and you can get paid… I really want you to get this money.'”
If you have fallen victim to any of the scams listed above, click here to report it to the BBB.
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