North Carolinians are receiving official-looking flyers that appear, at first glance, to be from the government. The flyers contain information about property they own including the address, the year the house was built, and its square footage. Recipients of the flyers are urged to purchase a copy of the deed to their property. A “Please Respond By” date is prominently displayed on the flyer and is always just a few days away.
Record Transfer Services, the California-based company behind the flyers, hopes you’ll see that fast-approaching date and send a check for $83 instead of examining the flyer with a critical eye. Or better yet, call the toll-free “Pay By Phone” number listed on the flyer to pay right away. My office is investigating these mailings, and we’ve taken action against similar schemes in the past.
Don’t pay an unnecessary fee for something that you can get yourself from your local government at little or no cost. To check out a suspicious mailing or file a complaint about one, contact our Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM within North Carolina. You can also file a consumer complaint online at www.ncdoj.gov.
This message brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.