North Caroline has recently created a cybercrime hotline for their state residents after a rise in cyber-scams. Residents of North Caroline have been targetted with COVID-19 related cyber-scams which has resulted in state residents losing millions of dollars.
The NC 2-1-1 hotline is free and is one of the first to launch in the US, being funded by federal and state grants. Residents of North Carolina have been victims of fraud schemes such as fake COVID-19 test results, cell phone cloning, fake charities, and scams seeking to exploit those who have lost their jobs during the pandemic. The program director for Cybercrime Support Network, Nichole Dennis, spoke to WCNC Charlotte and said: “People are falling on hard times, so there’s unemployment scams that are coming around.” Project manager of NC 2-1-1, Sharon D’costa, said she has noticed a rise in the number of romance scams as well as the number of scams claiming to sell puppies.
