Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Hosts Scam and Fraud Symposium for Local Financial Institutions
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with United Bank, hosted a Scam and Fraud Symposium today at Beaufort County Community College for local bank and financial investment professionals. The two-hour event focused on emerging scams and financial crimes impacting Beaufort County residents and ways financial institutions can work collaboratively with law enforcement to help prevent these crimes.
The symposium provided an opportunity for financial professionals to learn about current scam trends, recognize warning signs, and discuss how banks and financial institutions can assist law enforcement in identifying and preventing financial fraud.
🗣️ Speakers for the event included:
Sheriff Scott Hammonds, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
Heather Stroud, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Financial Crime Investigations Unit
Lloyd Williams, Assistant District Attorney
Detective Bollinger, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
Mia Williams, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager, United Bank
One of the key takeaways from the symposium was the importance of communication and collaboration among financial institutions. Representatives from participating banks had the opportunity to share information and discuss ways they can work together to better identify suspicious activity and protect their customers from fraud and scam attempts.
The group also discussed the increasing use of cryptocurrency as a preferred method of payment by scammers. Cryptocurrency transactions can be difficult to reverse once completed, and identifying the individuals behind fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions can present significant challenges for investigators. Financial professionals were encouraged to remain vigilant when customers are attempting to make unusual or high-risk transactions that may be connected to a scam.
Sheriff Scott Hammonds emphasized the importance of partnerships between law enforcement, financial institutions, and the community in combating financial crimes.
“Protecting our citizens from scams and financial fraud requires all of us to work together,” said Sheriff Hammonds. “Our local banks and financial institutions are often in a position to recognize warning signs before a victim loses their money. By communicating with one another and working closely with law enforcement, we can help prevent these crimes and protect the citizens of Beaufort County.”
The event concluded with the announcement of an upcoming Fraud and Scam Symposium that will be open to the public.
Upcoming Public Fraud and Scam Symposium
📅 October 29, 2026
🕕 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
📍 Beaufort County Community College, Boyette Conference Center — Building 10
Sheriff Hammonds is inviting members of the public to attend the October 29th symposium and learn valuable information about scams, fraud, and financial crimes currently affecting residents of Beaufort County.
The public symposium will provide residents with information they can use to recognize common scams, identify warning signs, and take steps to protect themselves, their families, and their finances.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office encourages citizens to remain cautious when receiving unsolicited phone calls, emails, text messages, social media messages, or requests for money or personal financial information. When in doubt, citizens are encouraged to stop, verify the information independently, and contact law enforcement or their financial institution before completing a transaction.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office thanks United Bank for sponsoring today’s symposium and Beaufort County Community College for providing the venue. The Sheriff’s Office also appreciates the participation of the financial institutions and professionals who attended and continue to work with law enforcement to protect the citizens of Beaufort County.