Consumer Alert

What Are “Pig Butchering” Scams, and How Can You Avoid Them? You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message on a social platform or dating app. The person on the other end is charming, builds rapport over weeks, and gradually steers the conversation toward a “can’t-miss” investment opportunity. This is not the start of a romantic or financial success story. It is the opening act of a sophisticated financial scam known as “pig butchering.” ...

Don’t Get Towed by a Fake Ticket: How to Spot a Parking Violation Scam If you’ve recently received an urgent text, email, or letter demanding payment for a parking ticket you don’t remember getting, you’re not alone. The North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) issued a consumer alert in March 2026 warning drivers about a new wave of sophisticated parking violation scams. These cons are designed to create panic and trick you into paying money or surrendering personal information to criminals. ...

A New Parking Ticket Scam is Targeting Drivers: Here’s How to Protect Yourself A new, deceptive scam is circulating that preys on a common driver’s worry: the unexpected parking ticket. According to a recent consumer alert from the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ), fraudsters are sending out fake parking violation notices in an attempt to steal money and personal information. This scam isn’t confined to physical tickets on windshields; it’s primarily digital, leveraging texts and emails to create a false sense of urgency. ...

Don’t Get Butchered: How a New Scam Fattens Victims Before the Kill In a recent official alert, New York Attorney General Letitia James warned residents about a ruthless and growing form of financial fraud known as “pig butchering.” The name is as brutal as the crime: scammers spend weeks or months “fattening up” a victim with trust and affection, only to slaughter them financially. This isn’t a quick phishing email; it’s a long con played on human emotion, and it’s emptying bank accounts across the country. ...

Watch Out for Fake Parking Tickets: How to Spot the Latest Scam If you’ve ever rushed back to your car, worried about a parking meter running out, you know that sinking feeling. Scammers are banking on that anxiety, and a recent alert from the North Carolina Department of Justice warns they’re now using it to steal your money and personal information. ...

Parking Ticket Text? Don’t Click. Here’s the New Scam to Watch For If you drive in North Carolina—or frankly, anywhere—you should be on the lookout for a new, convincing text message scam. Posing as a local parking authority, fraudsters are sending urgent messages about unpaid parking violations, hoping to steal your personal and financial information. The North Carolina Department of Justice issued an alert about this scheme in March 2026, warning drivers not to take the bait. ...

Don’t Fall for Fake Fines: How to Spot a Parking Ticket Scam If you drive, you’re likely no stranger to the sinking feeling of finding a parking ticket on your windshield. But what if that violation notice arrives by text or email, demanding immediate payment? That’s the red flag of a new scam, recently highlighted by authorities in North Carolina, that targets drivers with fake fines. ...

Heads Up, North Carolina Drivers: A New Parking Ticket Scam is Circulating If you receive a message demanding urgent payment for a parking ticket you don’t remember getting, take a pause. According to a consumer alert from the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ), scammers are actively targeting drivers with a convincing new fraud. They’re sending fake parking violation notices to trick people into paying money and handing over personal information. ...

That “Official” Parking Ticket May Be a Scam A new consumer alert warns drivers to be extra vigilant about parking violation notices arriving by text or email. The North Carolina Department of Justice recently highlighted a sophisticated scam where fraudsters send official-looking communications demanding immediate payment for alleged parking infractions. While the specific alert focuses on North Carolina, the tactics used are universal, making this a timely reminder for all drivers to pause and verify before paying any unexpected fine. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How Fraudsters Fatten Victims Before the Slaughter In a recent official warning, New York Attorney General Letitia James alerted the public to a sophisticated and devastating financial fraud known as “pig butchering.” This isn’t a minor swindle; it’s a long-term con that blends emotional manipulation with complex financial deception, leaving victims emotionally devastated and financially ruined. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...