CHARLOTTE — Scams cost North Carolinians $1 billion over five years, according to an analysis of data from the Federal Trade Commission.
The data shows the amount of money reported lost increased every year, going from $95 million in 2021 to just over $342 million in 2025.
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However, the number of scam-related losses reported did not grow at the same pace. According to the analysis, 71,000 losses were reported in 2021 and 74,000 in 2025, but the number fluctuated in between.
In Mecklenburg County, most scams were related to online shopping, diet products and debt counseling. According to the Associated Press, Mecklenburg recorded nearly 7,000 losses in online shopping alone during five years.