Scams & Fraud

Sign Up for Our Free Webinar on Avoiding Seasonal Fraud

With vacation season in full swing, you may be looking to book vacation rentals for your summer trips. Be careful as you make these reservations – scammers are ready with fake vacation rental ads to steal your money and leave you stranded on vacation. Scammers may place real homes on vacation rental sites without the consent of the homeowner, and change the contact and payment information to their own. They may also make up nonexistent properties and advertise them with great prices or amenities.

NEW -- PLEASE WATCH: NC fraud fighters give you tips on spotting, preventing and reporting home contractor scams.

ASHEVILLE – At a regional fraud prevention event held by elder advocates across the Mountain Region, AARP volunteer Betsy Cantrell was presented with the AARP Andrus Award for her outstanding contributions to improving the lives of adults as they age.

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft or some other kind of fraud, you are not alone. Nearly 70,000 North Carolinians filed claims of fraud, identity theft or other consumer complaints with the Federal Trade Commission in 2017.

RALEIGH – As part of an initiative to help curb fraud and identity theft that target older North Carolinians, AARP is pleased to announce a new top volunteer position it is working to fill. AARP’s Fraud Prevention Impact Leader will work with AARP North Carolina Executive Council members and other volunteers to develop and implement a statewide fraud prevention plan and extend AARP Fraud Watch Network programs and advocacy across the state.

Join our series of online Q&A sessions to learn how to avoid them.

AARP North Carolina joined Attorney General Josh Stein and State Representative Jason Saine (R) Lincolnton, when they introduced a proposal to strengthen North Carolina’s laws to prevent data breaches and to protect affected victims. The Attorney General and other state law enforcement officials have been part of AARP's efforts to protect North Carolinians from fraud and scams that target older adults.

New Research Finds Military Veterans Victimized by Scams Twice as Often as Nonveterans

Let me introduce you to a family caregiver, Lisa from Hawaii. With the help of her sister, Lisa cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease — managing medications, cleaning the house, and handling any medical issues. They also managed her mother’s finances. Lisa shared: “It felt like our whole world was slowly falling apart. At the time we did not know much about the disease or how quickly it was going to debilitate her. My sister and I took responsibility of making sure that she was provided for.”