Courts and Retail Merchants Fight Fraud with Public Access

The North Carolina Judicial Branch and North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) are teaming up this month to help consumers identify fraudulent court-payment demands and avoid sending funds to scammers.

The two groups are partnering to make direct-access materials available to retail locations across North Carolina and help consumers verify whether they owe money or are being summoned for a court matter. An initiative of the court system’s “ Justice for All | Access for You ” campaign, the materials are available online free to the public. They warn consumers of common scams, directing readers to NCCourts.gov to verify case and payment information online.

Scammers often impersonate court officials, law enforcement officers, and government agencies. They contact potential victims and falsely claim that the person owes court costs, bail, or jury-duty penalties. Fraudulent demands frequently threaten arrest or financial penalties unless the recipient pays immediately.

“Scammers are growing increasingly sophisticated at impersonating government institutions,” said Ryan S. Boyce, director of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. “Public awareness of how to verify official court information is an important tool to fight back. We are grateful for the help of the NCRMA to inform their membership of free public access to anti-fraud materials online.”

“Building awareness of scams and maintaining consumer trust is a critical part of keeping our state's thriving retail industry as strong as it can be,” said NCRMA President and General Counsel Andy Ellen. “As North Carolina's leading advocate for retailers, we take our role in empowering our members seriously as they help keep their shoppers informed of schemes that fraudulently mimic the state court system and could harm the customers they serve.”

Stop When a Caller Demands Immediate Payment 

The North Carolina Judicial Branch will not require payment through:

• Gift cards
• Cryptocurrency
• Wire transfers directed by a caller
• Peer-to-peer payment applications
• ATM cash deposits
• Money-transfer services requested by a caller

Anyone who receives an urgent demand for a court-related payment should stop before sending money and independently verify the claim.

Verify Before You Pay 
Consumers should:

• Search for the court case through the Judicial Branch’s official online Portal
• Confirm whether case and payment obligation are legitimate
• Verify the amount owed
• Review official payment options
• Contact the courthouse directly regarding a jury summons or jury duty

Consumers should not rely on a telephone number, website, payment link, or contact information supplied by the person demanding payment.

Use Official Court Information 
The public can securely access court information through the North Carolina Judicial Branch at NCCourts.gov to find official courthouse contacts or search the online records Portal. Through the online Portal, users can:

• Search for court cases
• Review available case information
• Determine whether money is owed
• Make eligible court payments online

Court payments may also be made directly through the clerk of superior court’s office at a local courthouse.

Organizations interested in displaying fraud-prevention materials may access them free on the “Justice for All | Access for You” campaign page on NCCourts.Gov .