NC Attorney General's Office warns of federal government shutdown scams

The N.C. Attorney General’s Office is warning North Carolinians to be on alert for potential scams related to the federal government shutdown.

The office said scammers typically use government shutdowns as an opportunity to impersonate federal agencies and steal personal or financial information, “seizing on the uncertainty and worry that accompanies a government shutdown.”

One example: a call, text, or email from someone impersonating government agencies claiming that your benefits are at risk unless you provide personal information or make a payment.

In past shutdowns, scammers have pretended to be from the Social Security Administration, Medicare or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

“In a shutdown, scammers see an opportunity to try to take advantage of people,