By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
During October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Wake County Board of Commissioners’ Growth, Sustainability, and Economic Development Committee drew attention to the growing threat of cybercrime after county contractors were targeted by fraudulent emails that appeared to contain legitimate permitting and payment information.
The September incident, in which scammers impersonated county communications to target contractors with active permit applications, showed commissioners how criminals are exploiting public information and trust in government to carry out financial scams.
During the county’s discussion of the incident, Wake County Chief Security Officer Lisa Jones explained that Planning and Development staff received emails and calls from contractors who had questions about fee assessments associated with their active permit applications. The fraudulent emails contained legitimate details, including submission numbers, attached invoices, and county contact information, making the payment requests appear authentic.
Jones credited the contractors’ decision to question unexpected payment requests and contact county staff with helping officials respond quickly.
“The contractors’ willingness to question the unexpected and bring that to the attention of county staff made it possible for us to address this quickly and efficiently,” Jones said.
By verifying the unexpected requests instead of immediately acting on them, the contractors helped county staff identify the fraudulent activity and respond.
Jones also noted that earlier in the year, the FBI warned state and local governments about this type of fraudulent payment scheme.
“This incident reinforces that local governments and the individuals and businesses interacting with them are attractive targets for financially motivated scams,” she said.
A key takeaway from the Wake County incident is that criminals do not necessarily need to break into a government agency’s computer systems to impersonate the agency successfully. Publicly available information, including permit details, business records, and contact information, can help scammers create convincing messages. When combined with official-looking invoices, familiar terminology and legitimate application numbers, that information can make it difficult for recipients to distinguish fraudulent communications from authentic county correspondence.
The county’s experience comes as Wake County, Raleigh and Cary work together to improve cybersecurity awareness among residents and local businesses. October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month provides an opportunity for local officials to address online threats and offer practical guidance to people who may be vulnerable to scams. The three local governments are partnering to provide free cybersecurity workshops throughout the month, with a particular focus on older adults and small businesses.
Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Shinica Thomas said the initiative is intended to help participants recognize threats and access resources that can reduce their risk of becoming victims.
“We know that cybercrime is a growing concern, especially for our seniors and small business communities,” Thomas said. “October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and we hope that attendees of these sessions can take away vital resources and information that can help them stay safe online and reduce the number of victims impacted each year.”
In 2023, people aged 60 and older collectively lost $3.4 billion to cybercrime, while 41% of small businesses reportedly experienced a cyberattack. Older adults can be targeted through fraudulent messages, fake technical support offers, and increasingly convincing impersonations, while small businesses may face phishing emails, fraudulent invoices, and attempts to redirect payments.
In Raleigh, the city’s Adult Technology Education program offers courses to help adults develop their digital skills, whether they want to learn how to use a cellphone, tablet or computer or become more comfortable with specialized software. The program also promotes online safety through educational opportunities designed to help residents recognize scams and protect themselves online.
As part of its October programming, the city promoted “Outsmarting AI Scams: A Guide for Savvy Seniors,” with sessions that took place on October 11 and October 26 at the Five Points Center for Active Adults.
Other digital literacy initiatives, including “Click with Confidence,” focus on helping older adults navigate technology, recognize suspicious online activity, and use the internet safely.
Earlier in 2026, Attorney General Jeff Jackson warned residents about scam text messages falsely claiming to come from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. The messages tell recipients they have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten license suspensions, fines, or other penalties unless they take action. They then direct recipients to websites that look official but are not connected to the state government.
The similarities between the scams are significant. Contractors may fear that failing to pay an alleged permitting fee will delay their applications, while drivers may worry that ignoring a purported traffic fine will result in additional penalties. In both cases, scammers rely on pressure and familiarity to influence their targets. Unexpected requests for money, threats of immediate consequences, and unfamiliar payment links are warning signs that warrant independent verification.
According to an Associated Press analysis of Federal Trade Commission data provided to Enlace Latino NC, consumers in the state reported more than $1 billion in scam-related losses between 2021 and 2025. Reported losses increased each year, rising from approximately $95 million in 2021 to just over $342 million in 2025. The number of reports grew much less dramatically, from approximately 71,000 in 2021 to 74,000 in 2025, with a decline during the intervening years.
Some victims may not report their losses, while others may not realize they have been targeted. The data also reveal differences in scam patterns across the state. Durham County, for example, recorded only seven reports classified as immigration services scams over the five years, yet those reports were enough to give the county the highest per-capita rate in North Carolina for that category. Mecklenburg County, meanwhile, had the highest per-capita rate in eight of the 47 scam subcategories tracked by the FTC, including online shopping, diet products, and debt counseling.
The challenge for the county and the state is not only to respond to cybercrime but also to make fraudulent communications easier to recognize and legitimate transactions easier to verify.
