BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Scammers are getting smarter, and now they’re using real court information to trick people into handing over their money.
Law enforcement across western North Carolina is warning that criminals are exploiting North Carolina’s new E-Courts online database, which allows public access to court records, including case numbers, hearing dates, and defendants’ names. That transparency, while intended to make the courts more accessible, is now being used to make fake calls sound real.
“It’s extremely easy,” said Jorge Redmond, senior attorney for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. “There’s a portal, there’s a website. If you have information like a defendant’s name or case number, you’re able to access that sort of stuff.”…