The North Carolina Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division has installed an automated phone message to handle the influx of calls concerning Zeek Rewards. Callers to Roy Cooper's office now hear a recorded greeting acknowledging they are likely phoning about the company. This system was installed to manage the many complaints flooding the office.
The office does not endorse or condemn Zeek Rewards. Instead, it directs individuals to file complaints online or by mail. Callers are advised to research the opportunity themselves before investing any money.
The Attorney General's office refers to Zeek Rewards as an "investment." This contradicts the company's own claims that it is not one. Yet, Zeek simultaneously promises affiliates a daily return on investment, a discrepancy the state's chief legal office has already noted.
An automated message for a specific company is unusual. State attorneys general typically reserve such measures for situations where complaints overwhelm staff. This suggests the volume of Zeek Rewards complaints has exceeded normal processing capacity.
As North Carolina's chief lawyer and the elected head of its Department of Justice, Roy Cooper can pursue legal action when public interest is at stake. The need for this message indicates complaints have crossed a threshold demanding immediate response.
The office confirmed it has received "several complaints." It did not specify an exact number or detail the allegations. "Several" could mean five or fifty, a crucial detail the AG's office has not clarified.
Enough people have been confused or harmed by Zeek Rewards that the state's top law enforcement agency needed to create a filter for incoming calls. Consumer Protection Division staff now spend time reading a script rather than investigating specific cases.
The automated message also includes a disclaimer. The AG's office cannot give investment or legal advice, nor does it endorse any program. Such a disclaimer becomes necessary when an organization repeatedly claims it offers no investments but pays daily returns, creating public confusion that lands on the Attorney General's desk.
The state's Consumer Protection Division has recovered over $80 million for North Carolina residents victimized by various scams and frauds. The fact that Zeek Rewards now warrants its own phone greeting suggests the office views the situation seriously enough to prepare for what comes next.