Scam Awareness

Don’t Get Parked by a Scam: How to Spot Fake Parking Tickets If you drive in North Carolina, be on alert. The state’s Department of Justice has issued a warning about a new wave of parking violation scams designed to trick drivers into paying fines that don’t exist. These cons are becoming more sophisticated, often using official-looking communications to create a false sense of urgency. Understanding how they work is your first line of defense. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Gift Card Scams: What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted Gift cards are convenient presents, but they have become a favorite tool for scammers. In December 2025, the District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning residents about a rise in gift card fraud, echoing similar warnings from consumer protection agencies across the country. The message is straightforward: no legitimate company or government agency will ever demand payment with a gift card. Yet thousands of people fall for this trick every year, losing hundreds of dollars each time. ...

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. ...

New Parking Ticket Scam Targets North Carolina Drivers: How to Spot the Fake If you get a text message or email about an unpaid parking ticket, don’t panic and don’t click. The North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) has issued a consumer alert warning drivers about a new scam designed to steal your money and personal information. ...

How to Spot, Stop, and Recover from Scams Scams aren’t what they used to be. The days of clumsy, misspelled emails from a “deposed prince” are fading, replaced by sophisticated schemes powered by artificial intelligence and psychological manipulation. Today, a scammer can clone a loved one’s voice in a phone call or create a convincing video of a CEO you trust. The stakes are higher, and the need for practical, everyday defense has never been more urgent. This guide cuts through the noise to give you concrete steps for recognizing modern fraud, preventing it, and knowing exactly what to do if you’re targeted. ...

Don’t Get Played: A Practical Guide to Spotting and Stopping Modern Scams Scams have always existed, but they’ve evolved. What used to be a poorly spelled email from a “Nigerian prince” has transformed into a sophisticated, multi-channel attack that can feel incredibly real. Thanks to artificial intelligence, fraudsters can now clone voices, create convincing deepfake videos, and personalize phishing attempts on a massive scale. This new era of digital deception makes a basic sense of caution more crucial than ever. The good news is that by understanding how modern scams work, you can build a powerful defense. ...

A Practical Guide to Spotting, Stopping, and Recovering from Scams Scams aren’t new, but the tools scammers use are evolving at a dizzying pace. The days of just ignoring a poorly written email are over. Today, you might get a phone call that sounds exactly like a family member in distress, or see a video of a CEO saying something they never actually did. This new reality makes knowing how to protect yourself more critical than ever. This isn’t about fear; it’s about building practical defenses for your finances and your identity. ...

Gift Card Scams: What the Latest Official Warning Means for You If you’ve ever purchased a gift card for a birthday or holiday, you understand their convenience. Unfortunately, scammers see them as something else entirely: a perfect, untraceable tool for theft. The prevalence of this fraud has prompted official warnings, including a recent alert from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, urging residents to be vigilant. Understanding how these scams work is the first step in protecting your money. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Surging: Here’s How to Protect Yourself Recently, Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about a sharp rise in gift card scams. This official notice underscores a troubling and widespread trend: scammers are increasingly demanding payment in the form of gift cards, a tactic that is both effective for criminals and devastating for victims. Understanding how these scams work is the first and most crucial step in avoiding them. ...

Don’t Get Fleeced: How to Spot the “Pig Butchering” Scam In a recent official alert, New York Attorney General Letitia James warned residents about a particularly insidious type of financial fraud known as “pig butchering.” The name is as crude as the scam itself, derived from the process of fattening a pig before slaughter. In this context, you are the pig. Scammers invest significant time in building trust and fattening your hopes of wealth, only to steal your life savings when you’re most vulnerable. Understanding how this scam operates is your first and best defense. ...