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Extension Homemakers help with nationwide sting

By Rose Hooper
Extension Homemaker Virginia Short

Extension Homemaker Virginia Short chuckles over some of the junk mail collected in the EH Consumer Fraud Sting operation. Through the work of Extension Homemakers across the state, one fraudulent telemarketing company has been shut down and seven sweepstakes companies are under investigation.

In November 1998, a small group of Extension Homemakers in Jackson County went quietly about their work at home, in the workplace and in the community.

Unbeknownst to all except a few family members and friends, this group of women tracked the junk mail, telemarketing calls and door-to-door solicitations they received for an entire month. These were compiled and categorized and sent to the state's EH special projects coordinator. What their work and the work of other Extension Homemakers across the state did filled an entire room at the State Attorney General's office in Raleigh.
Part of a nationwide sting operation conducted by Extension Homemakers in conjunction with attorney generals' offices, around 17,000 pieces of junk mail were collected in North Carolina. And it didn't stop there.

The hard work paid off. Several fraudulent companies targeting North Carolina were investigated as a result of the EH'ers work, said David Kirkman of the N.C. Attorney General's office. One company, Liberty Direct, made hundreds of calls into the state each night offering credit card protection for a $300 fee. After the sting operation, the company was shut down and 2,000 victims got their money back.

Seven sweepstakes companies are under investigation because of the evidence collected through the Extension Homemaker sting.

Kirkman commended the members for their diligence and progressive attitude in exposing consumer fraud. The results of the sting are just now being made public. Locally, Extension Homemakers in the Cane Creek and Caney Fork clubs participated in the sting. Virginia Short, county council secretary, coordinated the project.

Back to Archive: 12-02-99.