Raleigh, NC — Government officials in North Carolina are warning employers and the public about recent labor-related scams involving deceptive language in mailings.
In a video posted to the N.C. Department of Labor’s Facebook page, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson and Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall explain that employers are being sent misleading mailings that ask them to buy workplace posters or pay high fees for an online filing.
“Some of you have recently received mailings seeking huge fees for required labor law posters that you can get for free from the North Carolina Department of Labor’s website,” Dobson says.
Marshall adds that some employers may have “received mailings seeking hefty fees for a filing that you may not even need, but you can get at no charge or for a small fee from the secretary of state’s website.”
The pair explain that scammers are using a publicly available database to target the business community and the general public. The mailings look similar to government mailings, Dobson notes, but usually include fine print mentioning these individuals aren’t endorsed by any state agency.
“They’re hoping you won’t read that fine print,” Marshall says. “Don’t fall for it. They try to deceive you into spending money you don’t have to.”
Marshall encourages members of the public or business owners who have concerns about mailings they receive to immediately contact her office or the N.C. DOL.
“Reach out to our agencies before you reach for your checkbook,” Marshall says.
