This news item expired on Friday, November 30, 2012 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
North Carolina was spared the worst from Hurricane Sandy, and our hearts go out to those victims who bore the worst of the storm. But the danger isn’t over, because disasters like Sandy bring out scammers as surely as night follows day.
Heartless crooks set up fake charities (some with names that sound like established, legitimate organizations) to collect donations for disaster relief that go straight into the scammer’s pocket. Follow our tips to make sure your charitable dollars get into the right hands.
And after a flood, car buyers must be very wary. Unscrupulous dealers often clean up vehicles that have been in a flood, ship them to another part of the country, and attempt to sell them without notifying the potential buyer of the car’s true history. Before you consider purchasing a car following a major flood, ask if the vehicle has ever been flooded. Look at the vehicle’s title. And most importantly, have an independent, trustworthy mechanic inspect the car thoroughly. Read our other tips on flood damaged cars.
If you think you might have been scammed by a crooked charity or an unscrupulous car salesman, report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or filing a complaint online at www.ncdoj.gov.
This message brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.