State Attorney General warns students of the dangers of debt

Kesha Williams
April 01, 2015 On March 26, NC Attorney General Roy Cooper brought the College Cash &amp Credit Tour to Elizabeth City State University to help students become smarter consumers. Cooper encouraged students to educate themselves about student loans, credit and debit cards, and the risk of identity theft. &quotThe financial decisions you make today can impact your future,&quot Cooper told students. &quotTaking the time to learn how to be a smarter consumer now will pay off for years to come.&quot &quotMy office is here as a resource for students and consumers of all ages,&quot said Cooper. &quotIf you spot a scam or have trouble with a business, let us know about it.&quot While on campus, Cooper also met with Chancellor Stacey Franklin Jones. Joining Cooper at Elizabeth City State University were Assistant Attorney General Matthew Liles, Assistant Attorney General Carrington Skinner, and Outreach Specialist Nimasheena Burns. Those experts from the Consumer Protection Division and Victims and Citizens Services Section covered the following topics: How to manage student loan debt and avoid repayment scams. How to use credit and debit cards wisely and establish a good credit history. How to protect yourself from identity theft, online and offline. As part of the education effort, the Attorney General’s Office put together a checklist of steps college students can take to protect themselves from consumer problems, available at ncdoj.gov Consumers are encouraged to report scams and bad business practices to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by filing a complaint at ncdoj.gov or calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM. In the past year, Cooper has taken the College Cash and Credit Tour to High Point University, Queens University of Charlotte, Shaw University in Raleigh, Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.