03/05/2026
FRAUD ALERT!!!
Dear Members,
It has come to our attention that several companies are currently advertising so-called “concealed carry permits” that can allegedly be obtained by completing a short online course from home without the need to qualify on the range, or even shoot a firearm. We have received numerous emails and phone calls from members regarding these advertisements. Please be advised that these offers are misleading and not valid for North Carolina concealed carry certification. This matter has been reported to Joy Strickland at the Department of Justice on multiple occasions. But these companies, all using the same format, have greatly increased their email campaigns as of late.
These companies typically require participants to select their state, then watch a very brief video—often only a few minutes long—and answer a small set of 10 questions. After doing so, the participant is informed that they have “passed” the course and are then prompted to pay a fee of approximately $200 in order to receive their “permit”. In most cases, a disclaimer appears in very small minute print within a long paragraph stating that the certificate is “not valid in North Carolina.” Unfortunately, many individuals only notice this after reaching the payment stage.
In some instances, if the individual chooses not to proceed with the payment, they may receive follow-up phone calls offering discounted pricing, sometimes as much as $100 off. If the calls are ignored, additional multiple emails are often sent offering further discounts to encourage completion of the transaction.
Members should be aware that North Carolina law requires an eight-hour, in-person concealed carry course, in addition to a live-fire qualification on the range involving a minimum of 30 rounds fired at specified distances. Any advertisement claiming that a permit can be obtained with “no classroom, no books, no range time, and no government red tape” should be viewed as a bogus money making scheme in our state, and likely others.
Several companies with different names appear to be using nearly identical advertising formats and language. Individuals who complete and pay for these programs generally receive nothing more than a certificate for a course that has no recognition or validity within the State of North Carolina, and likely does not satisfy requirements in other states with established certification standards.
Please ensure that your students and others in your community are aware of this issue so they do not become victims of these deceptive practices.
Respectfully,
NCCCIA BOARD
