Key Findings
Area code 843 (Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and the South Carolina Lowcountry) ranks #109 nationally with 36,647 FTC complaints from 15,372 unique scam numbers. ScamVerify™ analysis reveals a scam profile shaped by three overlapping vulnerabilities: a large retiree population, a tourism-driven economy, and a military presence at Joint Base Charleston.
Medical scams lead at 5,341 complaints (62.6% robocall rate), the highest medical count of any South Carolina area code. Government impersonation follows at 3,501 with a 63.3% robocall rate. The Dominion Energy scam is the most distinctive local threat: scammers spoof Dominion's exact customer service number so the call appears legitimate on caller ID, then threaten power disconnection within 30 minutes. The Horry County Sheriff's Office (covering Myrtle Beach) receives 25+ scam reports per day, with individual victims losing up to $40,000. In one documented case, a woman avoided a sheriff impersonation scam because the caller mispronounced "Horry" County (locally pronounced "oh-REE"), revealing the scammer's unfamiliarity with the area.
843's Scam Category Profile
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical and prescriptions | 5,341 | 62.6% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 3,501 | 63.3% |
| 3 | Debt reduction | 1,632 | 73.1% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 749 | 55.9% |
| 5 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 338 | 57.7% |
| 6 | Vacation and timeshares | 275 | 38.9% |
| 7 | Charities | 247 | 45.3% |
| 8 | Home security and alarms | 206 | 51.9% |
Medical scams lead by 53% over impersonation (5,341 vs. 3,501). The 62.6% robocall rate means roughly a third of medical calls use live operators. Vacation and timeshare scams rank #6 with 275 complaints at 38.9% robocall rate, reflecting the Myrtle Beach tourism economy and its timeshare industry. Lotteries rank #9 with 186 complaints, also elevated by the tourism corridor.
Home security at 206 complaints is notable. The 843 area code has more home security scam complaints than most area codes in our series, potentially driven by the region's aging population and coastal property values.
The Dominion Energy Scam
Dominion Energy serves the Charleston metro and Lowcountry. It is the most impersonated utility in the 843 area code.
- Scammers spoof Dominion's exact customer service number so it appears legitimate on caller ID
- They claim the customer's power will be disconnected in 30 minutes
- Payment demanded via prepaid cards, gift cards, money orders
- Scam surges during holidays and extreme weather events (hurricane season)
- Dominion issued a fresh warning in March 2026 for National Consumer Protection Week
- The Newberry County Sheriff specifically warned about Dominion impersonation in rural areas
Dominion confirmed they never threaten disconnection by phone or take payments over the phone. Energy and utility scams account for 338 complaints in the 843 area code at 57.7% robocall rate. Dominion Energy SC's legitimate number is (800) 251-7234.
Duke Energy Carolinas serves the Upstate and Piedmont but not the 843 area. For Charleston-area residents, Dominion is the relevant utility scam threat.
Charleston: Seniors at the Crosshairs
Charleston Police investigated a cluster of senior citizen scam cases that illustrate the threat level.
| Victim Age | Loss | Scam Type | Payment Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | $10,000 | Tech support | Bitcoin ATM |
| 78 | $8,500 | Government impersonation | Bitcoin ATM |
| 61 | $7,000 | Investment scam | Bitcoin ATM |
| 73 | $9,200 | Government impersonation | Wire transfer |
| 81 | $7,500 | Tech support | Bitcoin ATM |
Three of five victims were directed to Bitcoin ATMs while the scammer stayed on the phone. South Carolina has 20.4% of its population age 65 or older, one of the highest rates nationally. The SC Department of Consumer Affairs reported 2,293 elderly victims (age 60+) with $58.58 million in losses statewide in 2024.
In February 2026, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office began delaying inmate booking postings online to combat bail scams. Between October 2024 and October 2025, CCSO recorded 188 fraud reports and 8 confirmed jail bail scams where scammers scraped booking data and called families demanding bail money.
Myrtle Beach: The Tourism Scam Corridor
The 843 area code extends north to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand, creating a tourism-driven scam corridor.
The Horry County Sheriff's Office receives 25+ scam reports per day. Victims lose up to $40,000 per incident. Scammers impersonate deputies, claim missed jury duty, and demand payment via Cash App, credit cards, or Bitcoin.
One documented anecdote stands out: a Horry County woman received a call from someone claiming to be a sheriff's deputy. The scammer mispronounced "Horry" County (locals say "oh-REE," but the scammer said "HOR-ee"), immediately alerting her that the call was fake. This phonetic error saved her from the fraud.
Tourism-specific scams in the Myrtle Beach corridor include:
- Vacation rental scams on fake booking sites
- Timeshare resale fraud (275 complaints in 843, 38.9% robocall rate)
- Hotel "reservation confirmation" calls demanding credit card verification
- Fake "free ticket" offers used as bait for high-pressure timeshare presentations
Scam Ring Blocks in 843
ScamVerify identified 10 organized number blocks within the 843 area code.
| Block | Numbers | Complaints | Avg/Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 843-400-1xxx | 6 | 145 | 24.2 |
| 843-829-3xxx | 12 | 155 | 12.9 |
| 843-960-6xxx | 3 | 78 | 26.0 |
| 843-894-6xxx | 6 | 77 | 12.8 |
| 843-484-3xxx | 6 | 96 | 16.0 |
| 843-439-8xxx | 9 | 102 | 11.3 |
The 843-960-6 block has just 3 numbers averaging 26.0 complaints each, over 10 times the national average. The 843-400-1 block has 6 numbers at 24.2 average. The 843-829-3 block is the largest with 12 numbers and 155 complaints. Combined, these six blocks contain 42 sequential scam numbers generating 653 complaints.
Top 10 Most Reported 843 Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (843) 593-5812 | 144 | Mixed |
| 2 | (843) 459-1469 | 110 | Impersonation (71, 64.5%) |
| 3 | (843) 376-5497 | 98 | Robocaller (97%) |
| 4 | (843) 226-4417 | 90 | Mixed |
| 5 | (843) 373-9325 | 89 | Mixed |
| 6 | (843) 400-1371 | 78 | Mixed |
| 7 | (843) 814-8313 | 72 | Robocaller (100%) |
| 8 | (843) 957-7557 | 66 | Medical (34, 51.5%) |
| 9 | (843) 306-8180 | 64 | Dropped calls (100%) |
| 10 | (843) 406-1139 | 54 | Mixed |
(843) 459-1469 is an impersonation line with 71 of 110 complaints (64.5%) for government/business impersonation at a 93% robocall rate. (843) 376-5497 is an automated robocaller at 97% rate. (843) 957-7557 is a medical scam line with 34 of 66 complaints (51.5%) for medical and prescriptions, also showing energy (9) and impersonation (9) components. (843) 400-1371 is part of the 843-400-1 scam ring block identified above.
843 in the South Carolina Context
Charleston's 843 ranks third among South Carolina's five area codes.
| Area Code | Region | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | Columbia | 47,274 | 62.8% | Medical (4,959) |
| 864 | Greenville | 38,556 | 72.2% | Medical (4,706) |
| 843 | Charleston / Myrtle Beach | 36,647 | 72.6% | Medical (5,341) |
| 839 | Columbia overlay | 7,898 | 44.0% | Debt |
| 854 | Greenville overlay | 7,374 | 51.4% | Debt |
Despite ranking third in total complaints, the 843 area code has the highest medical scam count (5,341) and highest in-state targeting (72.6%) of any SC code. The 72.6% in-state rate confirms 843 is primarily used for neighbor spoofing against local Lowcountry residents. For state context, see ScamVerify's South Carolina Phone Scam Report.
Military Angle: Joint Base Charleston
Joint Base Charleston is home to 3,800+ active duty personnel and 5,500+ reservists. The FTC reported military-connected consumers lost $584 million nationally in 2024, a 25% increase. Military families in the 843 area face:
- VA benefits impersonation calls
- Fake deployment-related "emergency" calls
- PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moving scams
- Financial product fraud targeting guaranteed military income
The casualty notification impersonation scam has been documented in the SC area, where scammers physically visit homes posing as casualty notification officers.
What to Do If You Get a Scam Call From an 843 Number
- Check any 843 number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. We have 15,372 known scam numbers in the 843 area code.
- Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to SC Consumer Affairs at 1-800-922-1594.
- Dominion Energy never threatens disconnection by phone. They never take payments over the phone. Verify at (800) 251-7234.
- The Horry County Sheriff never demands payment by phone. If someone claiming to be a deputy asks for Cash App, gift cards, or Bitcoin, it is a scam. Call HCSO directly at (843) 915-5450.
- Never use Bitcoin ATMs to make payments. Three of five Charleston senior victims were directed to crypto kiosks. No legitimate government agency or company demands Bitcoin payment.
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FAQ
Is area code 843 a scam area code?
No. Area code 843 is a legitimate area code serving Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and the South Carolina Lowcountry. Many legitimate businesses, hospitals, and military installations use 843 numbers. However, with 15,372 known scam numbers and medical scams as the #1 category (5,341 complaints), unsolicited calls from unknown 843 numbers should be treated with caution. The 72.6% in-state targeting rate means most 843 scam calls are targeting local residents.
What is the Dominion Energy scam?
Scammers spoof Dominion Energy's exact customer service number so the call appears legitimate. They threaten power disconnection within 30 minutes and demand payment via prepaid cards, gift cards, or money orders. Scams surge during holidays and extreme weather. Dominion confirmed they never threaten disconnection by phone or take payments over the phone. Their legitimate SC number is (800) 251-7234. Dominion issued a fresh warning in March 2026.
How many scam reports does Horry County get?
The Horry County Sheriff's Office receives 25+ scam reports per day, with victims losing up to $40,000 per incident. Scammers impersonate deputies, claim missed jury duty, and demand Cash App, credit card, or Bitcoin payment. In one case, a woman identified the scam when the caller mispronounced "Horry" (locally "oh-REE"). The HCSO number is (843) 915-5450.
Why does 843 have so many medical scam calls?
Area code 843 has 5,341 medical complaints, the highest of any SC area code. South Carolina has 20.4% of its population age 65 or older, concentrated in coastal retirement communities within the 843 coverage area (Hilton Head, Kiawah Island, Pawleys Island). The SC Consumer Affairs office reported 2,293 elderly victims with $58.58 million in losses statewide. The 62.6% robocall rate means roughly a third of medical calls use live operators.
How does 843 compare to Charleston's neighboring area codes?
843 has the highest medical scam count (5,341) and in-state targeting (72.6%) of any SC code, despite ranking third in total complaints behind 803 Columbia (47,274) and 864 Greenville (38,556). The overlay codes (839 at 44% and 854 at 51.4% in-state) are used for out-of-state campaigns. For full analysis, see ScamVerify's South Carolina Phone Scam Report.
