Senior Scam Prevention & Fraud Resources in South Carolina
South Carolina seniors reported $97 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 3,136 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides South Carolina-specific scam prevention resources, official reporting contacts, and five years of FBI elder fraud data for the state.
Already been scammed? Read our First 24 Hours Emergency Guide for critical steps to take immediately.
I. Overview: South Carolina’s Senior Population & Key Cities
South Carolina has an estimated population of 5.4 million as of 2024, with over 1.1 million residents aged 65 and older, representing 20.4% of the state’s population — one of the highest senior proportions in the U.S. With a growing retiree population and an influx of older adults relocating to the Southeast, South Carolina’s seniors are increasingly targeted by online and phone-based scams.
The largest cities in the state — each with a high senior population and frequent fraud reports — are:
- Charleston (approx. 160,000 people)
- Columbia (approx. 137,000 people)
- North Charleston (approx. 118,000 people)
These cities report growing fraud losses — and the 2025 data shows a dramatic shift. South Carolina seniors lost $97 million, up 66% from 2024. Investment scams nearly quadrupled to $38 million (+274%), becoming the dominant threat. Lottery/sweepstakes decreased 61%, while romance scams held essentially flat (+2%). Fast action and public awareness are critical to protect older South Carolinians.
II. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted South Carolina’s Seniors
In 2025, South Carolina had 3,136 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $97,344,480 — up 37% in victims and 66% in losses compared to 2024 (2,293 victims / $59M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $37,827,948 | $10,104,223 | +274% |
| Tech Support | $13,880,405 | $9,882,942 | +40% |
| Romance | $9,671,081 | $9,447,981 | +2% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $1,373,931 | $3,542,938 | -61% |
| Extortion | $433,073 | $141,926 | +205% |
| Government Impersonation | $11,178,321 | $9,134,309 | +22% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — South Carolina
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — South Carolina (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 1,240 | $15,727,100 | — | #24 |
| 2022 | 1,312 | $35,610,994 | +126% | #22 |
| 2023 | 1,485 | $43,758,611 | +23% | #22 |
| 2024 | 2,295 | $58,582,096 | +34% | #22 |
| 2025 | 3,136 | $97,344,480 | +66% | #21 |
| 5-Year Total | 9,468 | $251,023,281 | +519% (2021—2025) | — |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021—2025. Covers victims aged 60 and older. National rank is by total dollar loss among 52 states/territories. National totals: $1.6B (2021), $3.0B (2022), $3.3B (2023), $4.7B (2024), $7.4B (2025) — $20.1 billion stolen from American seniors over five years.
Top Crime Types Targeting South Carolina Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 262 | $37,827,948 | $63,591,060 | +5,678% |
| Tech Support | 340 | $13,880,405 | $41,449,181 | +287% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 233 | $11,178,321 | $24,174,281 | +4,868% |
| BEC | 70 | $10,775,913 | $32,633,487 | New |
| Romance | 215 | $9,671,081 | $34,259,038 | New |
| Personal Data Breach | 195 | $1,497,185 | $7,282,312 | +276% |
Top 6 crime types by 2025 losses. Growth calculated from 2021 to 2025. For national crime type trends, see our Crime Type Migration Analysis.
What the data reveals: South Carolina’s elder fraud losses reached $97 million in 2025, up 66% from $59 million in 2024, with 3,136 seniors victimized (+37%). The story is investment scams: they nearly quadrupled from $10 million to $38 million (+274%), now accounting for 39% of all losses. Government impersonation remained significant at $11 million but grew only 22%. Romance scams were essentially flat (+2%) — one of the lowest growth rates nationally. Lottery/sweepstakes decreased 61%. Approximately 1 in every 1,748 South Carolina residents aged 60+ reported being a victim.
National context: South Carolina ranks #21 in total losses and #25 in per-capita victim rate (57.24 per 100,000), near the national midpoint. The 66% year-over-year loss increase exceeds the national average of 57%, driven almost entirely by the explosion in investment scams. The flat romance scam growth (+2%) and the 61% lottery decline are positive signals, suggesting prevention efforts may be working in those categories.
For the full national picture, including how South Carolina compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud & Financial Crimes
1. Charleston Police Department – Economic Crimes Unit
- Phone: (843) 577-7434 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.charleston-sc.gov
- Tip: Request Financial Crimes Division or ask to report elder-targeted scams.
2. Columbia Police Department – Investigative Division
- Phone: (803) 545-3500 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.columbiapd.net
- Ask for help with scam reports or elder abuse cases.
3. North Charleston Police Department – Fraud Unit
- Phone: (843) 740-2800 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.northcharleston.org
- Tip: Ask for Economic Crimes or Elder Services.
FBI & Federal Reporting Resources
FBI Columbia Field Office (covers South Carolina)
- Phone: (803) 551-4200
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/columbia
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use to report elder-targeted online scams including phishing, romance fraud, or identity theft.
South Carolina Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Consumer Protection
South Carolina Attorney General – Securities & Elder Investment Fraud Division
- Consumer Fraud Hotline: (803) 734-4200
- Website: www.scag.gov
- Handles elder financial fraud, consumer complaints, and legal actions against scammers.
Statewide Elder Support & Medicare Fraud Services
South Carolina Adult Protective Services (APS)
- To report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of seniors:
APS 24/7 Hotline: (888) 227-3487 - Website: www.dss.sc.gov
- Select “Adult Protection” for more information by county.
South Carolina Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 868-9095
- Website: www.scaccesshelp.org
- Assists with preventing, identifying, and reporting Medicare fraud and medical identity theft.
Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging / State Unit on Aging
- Aging Info Line: (800) 868-9095
- Website: www.aging.sc.gov
- Connects seniors to legal help, benefits, long-term care support, and fraud education programs.
Stay Safe, Stay Ahead of Scammers
- South Carolina seniors report millions in losses annually due to scams — most of which are preventable.
- Save and share these contacts with friends, family, caregivers, or church groups.
- Visit our Education Center to learn about common scams, warning signs, and recovery steps.
- If you feel uneasy about a call, email, or message — stop, verify, and report.
IV. Learn More: South Carolina Scam Prevention Guides
Explore South Carolina-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in South Carolina — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in South Carolina — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in South Carolina — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in South Carolina — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in South Carolina — Step-by-step guide to reporting fraud and starting recovery.
For national-level data on each scam type, see our Investment, Tech Support, Romance, and Government Impersonation national guides.
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