Fraud News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

Durham County woman accused of deceiving woman out of $80K

A woman accused of fraud and impersonating a bank agent had her bond reduced after her first court appearance on Wednesday. Yanru Cui had her bond reduced to $60,000. She also received a court-appointed attorney.

Warrants: Man, woman committed fraud throughout four NC counties

Ethan Smith and Victoria Tudor face dozens of charges in a fraud scheme that took place across multiple counties.

Warrants: Man, woman took thousands through stolen checks in multi-county scheme

Victoria Tudor and Ethan Smith are facing dozens of charges in a multi-county fraud scheme.

NC Attorney General warns of fake food drive scams amid government shutdown

North Carolina's Attorney General Jeff Jackson is warning about fake food drive schemes exploiting the ongoing government shutdown. Learn what to look for if you spot one online.

NC school background checks vary, leave loopholes to hire convicted criminals

North Carolina is an outlier in not requiring background checks while hiring, WRAL News has found.

How to protect yourself from Halloween scams

As Halloween approaches, the Better Business Bureau and other experts warn that scammers are ramping up efforts.

The real Halloween scare: Halloween and digital scams to know about this holiday season

As Halloween approaches, the Better Business Bureau and other experts warn that scammers are ramping up efforts.

Watch out for 'ghost' tapping charges on your credit card, bank account

A new warning about "ghost" charges that could impact your credit card or bank account. In at least one case, the Better Business Bureau says a victim was charged 15-thousand dollars.

Wake Forest man facing fraud charges in massive electricity theft

Wake County Sheriff's Office and Duke Energy accuse 36-year-old Rafael Williams for opening numerous accounts in the name of living and deceased customers and totaled in about $495,904.62 in losses for the company.

5 On Your Side: Avoid buying scams at the NC State Fair

The Better Business Bureau is urging consumers to remember some key points before making any big purchases at the North Carolina State Fair.

5 On Your Side: Buying scams to avoid at the NC State Fair

The Better Business Bureau is urging consumers to remember some key points before making any big purchases at the North Carolina State Fair.

Don't Waste Your Money: AI Oprah endorses weight loss product

A revolutionary weight loss pill claimed to have the effects of popular GLP-1 medicines, endorsed by Oprah Winfrey. The problem, the video wasn't real. It was a deepfake AI.

Don't Waste Your Money: AI Oprah endorses weight loss product

A revolutionary weight loss pill claimed to have the effects of popular GLP-1 medicines, endorsed by Oprah Winfrey. The problem, the video wasn't real. It was a deepfake AI.

22-year-old man enrolls in high school using fake documents

A 22-year-old enrolled into a Minnesota high school using fake documents.

Elder financial fraud: Man accused of computer scam appears in Lee County court

Deputies said 19-year-old Avinash Chandreshbhai Patel is accused of attempting to collect money from an elderly person in Lee County. He is facing felony charges, including obtaining property by false pretense and felony conspiracy.

22-year-old accused of enrolling in Minnesota high school, posing as teen

The White Bear Lake School district said Kelvin Luebke, 22, enrolled in high school using fraudulent documents and faked his identity as an 18-year-old.

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CJF America president misses court for second time in as many weeks, attorney says she's hospitalized

CJF America President Kristen Picot missed her second straight court date on misdemeanor worthless check charges, with her attorney stating she was hospitalized in Raleigh.

Clayton man accused of stealing ID for teaching job dodges questions after court appearance

Gregory Pettiford, accused of identity theft to secure a teaching job, appeared in Franklin County court facing multiple charges. Despite efforts to contact him, Pettiford remained elusive and refused to answer WRAL's questions.

Clayton man accused of using stolen ID to teach, makes court appearance

Gregory Pettiford is facing two felony charges for identity theft and two misdemeanors for having a fake driver's license and social security card, according to arrest warrants. Court documents say Pettiford used someone else's driver's license number to apply for a position at Crosscreek Charter School in Louisburg.

Wake County woman falls victim to man impersonating NCDOT worker

A Wake County woman was swindled out of $200 as a man impersonating a NCDOT worker convinced her he could resurface her driveway.

Scam warning: Man poses as NCDOT worker, steals $200 from a Wake County senior

A man allegedly posed as a NC Department of Transportation employee, offered to resurface a woman's driveway, and accepted $200 after promising to return the next day with workers to complete the work, despite never returning.

Two execs from Durham-based company charged in fraud investigation

Nicholas Gallardo, CFO of the Courtney Jordan Foundation, and Courtney Jordan, the company's founder, are charged with obtaining property by false pretenses and felony conspiracy in connection the the foundation, also known as CJF America. Arrest warrants have been issued.

5 On Your Side: Don't fall for this scam handing out free money from Zelle or Cash App

Free money from Zelle or Cash App--just for filling out a government form? That's what some TikTok videos claim.

5 On Your Side: Better Business Bureau warns about possible nationwide job scam with ties to Durham

The Better Business Bureau is warning about a possible nationwide job scam from SynBio Therapeutic, which has ties to Durham. 5 On Your Side's Ashley Rowe exposes the red flags to watch out for.

Couple battling illness says contractor took money, left project unfinished

A couple facing life-threatening illnesses say a contractor took their money but never finished the work he promised. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur explains how to protect yourself from being put in this kind of position.