JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein met with Onslow County law officials Monday morning, in an effort to warn residents about scammers targeting hurricane victims.

  • Stein says his office is dealing with 800 price gouging reports that they are perusing in civil court
  • Natural disasters often bring out the worst in crooks who prey on people who are vulnerable
  • Officials say take a picture of the suspect or their vehicle if you're approached by scammers

Stein says his office is dealing with 800 price gouging reports that they are investigating and perusing in civil court.

He says, although despicable, natural disasters often bring out the worst in crooks who prey on people who are vulnerable, desperate for a deal, who may have lost everything.

He says crimes they have been seeing include: bogus FEMA representatives who ask for checks, contractors over charging for services, looters striking while families evacuate, fake charities calling asking for donations, and even people selling flooded cars.  Stein warns to get a car inspection before purchase.

“Is there mud inside the AC system? Lift up the carpet on the floor system, is there mildew there? There are tell-tale signs that professionals can identify. To you and me, it will look like a beautiful, shiny, conditioned used car, but it may not be, that's why you need professional help,” said Stein.

Onslow County Sheriff Hans Miller says there have been about a dozen reports of scam attempts reported to his office. It includes fake FEMA agents asking for money. He says to take a picture of the suspect or their vehicle if you are approached.

Onslow District Attorney Ernie Lee is currently in the process of charging suspected looters in the county and says whatever scams are not considered civil, his office will aggressively pursue. Lee handles criminal cases, which include con-artists posing as workers and contractors under false pretenses. Stein handles civil suits that do not involve felony charges and jail time.

After leaving Jacksonville, Stein headed to Beaufort and New Bern. To report a scam, please contact his office’s reporting line at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or NCDOJ.GOV/COMPLAINT.