South Carolinians lost over $8 million from scams and identity theft in 2025, according to data released Tuesday by the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA).
The report details the type of scams criminals used to target victims and how they were conducted.
The top three types of identity theft were financial at just over 60% of cases, government at 21.74%, and medical with 2.85%. Consumers discovered they were identity theft victims through credit reports, bank notices and business notifications.
The most prevalent types of scams were purchase, service/repair and debt collection. 60% of consumers who reported scams were contacted by phone.
SCDCA hosts free weekly webinars on Wednesday mornings to teach consumers and businesses how to protect themselves from scams. The webinar scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25 will discuss the new report.
Participants can register here.
Anyone who thinks they have been scammed or had their identity stolen should contact SCDCA by calling (800) 922-1594 or visiting their website .
