Heads up, Brunswick County — scammers have our area on their list

⚠️ Heads up, Brunswick County — scammers have our area on their list, and the numbers prove it.A new Associated Press analysis of Federal Trade Commission data found that North Carolina consumers reported more than $1 BILLION lost to scams over the last five years — and the losses climbed every single year, from about $95 million in 2021 to just over $342 million in 2025.Here’s the part that hits home: Brunswick County led the entire state, per capita, in SIX scam categories — including romance scams, tech support scams, and timeshare and vacation scams.That tracks with what a lot of folks around here already know: the “your computer has a virus, call this number” calls, the too-good-to-be-true vacation deals, and the online romances that turn into a plea for money.The red flag to watch for: someone pressures you to act RIGHT NOW while asking for money or private information. That’s the moment to stop, hang up, and talk it over with someone who isn’t in the middle of the pitch.If you think you’ve been targeted, report it — the N.C. Department of Justice takes complaints, and you can also report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the FTC. Reporting helps authorities spot the patterns.Share this one with your parents, your neighbors, and anybody who might pick up that call. 💛Source: Associated Press analysis of FTC data, Oct. 22, 2026.