Consumer Alert

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How to Avoid Being Led to Slaughter You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message. Maybe it’s a wrong number text, a connection request on LinkedIn, or a like on a dating app. The person on the other end is charming, attractive, and gradually builds a rapport with you over weeks or even months. They share stories, ask about your day, and become a digital confidant. Then, the conversation subtly shifts to a “can’t-miss” investment opportunity. This is the hallmark of a “Pig Butchering” scam, and as a recent alert from the New York Attorney General underscores, it remains a severe and evolving threat. ...

Don’t Get Fattened Up: How to Recognize and Avoid “Pig Butchering” Scams You get a friendly, unexpected message. Maybe it’s on a dating app, social media, or even a wrong-number text. The person is charming, engaging, and over weeks or months, a seemingly genuine relationship or friendship blossoms. Then, the conversation turns to a “can’t-miss” investment opportunity. This slow-burn strategy is the hallmark of a “pig butchering” scam, a devastating fraud that has prompted warnings from authorities like the New York State Attorney General. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...

That Parking Ticket Might Be a Scam: What North Carolina Drivers Need to Know You find a notice on your windshield, or an urgent text message arrives, demanding payment for a parking violation. Your first instinct might be to pay it quickly to avoid more trouble. But before you do, take a moment. Law enforcement officials are warning that a new wave of parking ticket scams is targeting drivers, using official-looking documents and high-pressure tactics to steal your money and information. ...

The New “Friend” Who Wants You to Get Rich: Understanding Pig Butchering Scams You get a message out of the blue. Maybe it’s on a dating app, social media, or even a wrong-number text that turns into a conversation. The person on the other end is charming, attentive, and seems genuinely interested in your life. Over weeks or even months, a digital friendship—or romance—blossoms. Then, they casually mention an incredible investment opportunity that’s making them a fortune. They want to help you get in on it, too. ...

New York’s Attorney General Issues Warning on “Pig Butchering” Scams: What You Need to Know A new consumer alert from New York State Attorney General Letitia James highlights a disturbing and sophisticated fraud trend that has been devastating victims financially and emotionally. Dubbed “pig butchering,” this scam is a long-term con that blends fake online relationships with fraudulent investment schemes. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...

How to Recognize and Avoid ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams That Target Your Savings A new wave of sophisticated online scams is draining bank accounts under a disturbing name: “Pig Butchering.” Recently, the New York State Attorney General’s office issued a formal consumer alert warning residents about this specific fraud, which has led to devastating financial losses. Unlike a quick phishing attempt, this scam is a long con, meticulously designed to fatten up victims with false trust before slaughtering their savings. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...

Don’t Get Parked by a Fake Ticket: How to Spot a Parking Violation Scam If you’ve ever found a parking ticket on your windshield, your heart probably sank. Now, scammers are exploiting that moment of frustration and worry with a new wave of fake violation notices. According to a recent consumer alert from the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ), drivers are being targeted by a convincing parking ticket scam designed to steal money and personal information. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself. ...

New Parking Violation Scam: How to Spot Fake Tickets and Avoid Getting Duped If you’ve ever returned to your car to find a parking ticket tucked under the wiper blade, you know the sinking feeling. But a new scam reported by the North Carolina Department of Justice shows that not every ticket is what it seems. The state’s attorney general recently issued a consumer alert about fraudulent parking violation notices that attempt to trick drivers into paying fines that don’t exist. ...

New Parking Violation Scam Targets Drivers: How to Spot and Avoid It If you park in a paid lot or street space and later receive a text message demanding immediate payment for a parking violation, do not tap the link. That message is almost certainly a phishing attempt, and it is part of an active scam that state authorities in North Carolina have been warning about since late March 2026. ...

New Parking Violation Scam Targets North Carolina Drivers: What to Know If you’ve parked in a lot or on a street in North Carolina recently, watch for a text message claiming you owe a parking fine. The state’s Attorney General issued a warning on March 25, 2026, about a rising scam that uses fake parking violation notices sent by text. The messages include links or QR codes that lead to fraudulent payment sites designed to steal your credit card information or money. ...