The North Carolina Department of Justice, North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors, and the North Carolina Board of Architecture and Interior Designers are warning consumers to be careful when they use freelancing websites such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer to hire professional engineering, surveying, architectural, or home design services. These popular platforms allow anyone to advertise their services but may not verify if they are properly licensed.  

“More people are turning to online platforms to hire professional services, and scammers are taking advantage of that. Always do your research before paying for services and verify licenses and credentials to make sure you’re hiring a professional. Also, if subcontractors are doing work (particularly on large, municipal projects), make sure to verify the licenses and credentials of the subcontractors.” – AG Jackson