Key Findings
South Carolina ranks #7 nationally for fraud reports (FTC data) and #7 for robocalls per person at 258 calls per person annually (WhistleOut 2026). ScamVerify™ analysis of 9.7 million FTC phone complaint records reveals 137,749 complaints from 57,116 unique scam numbers across 5 South Carolina area codes. The state lost $8.5 million to scams and identity theft in 2025 (SC Department of Consumer Affairs), up from $7.5 million in 2024, with 60% of scam victims contacted by phone.
South Carolina's demographics create a uniquely vulnerable population: 20.4% of residents are age 65 or older, one of the highest rates nationally, concentrated in coastal retirement communities. Medical scams lead the state at 16,709 complaints, and the SC Department of Consumer Affairs reported 2,293 elderly victims (age 60+) with $58.58 million in losses in 2024. AG Alan Wilson is leading Operation Robocall Roundup nationally, and the Columbia 803 area code ranks #46 nationally with 47,274 complaints. In March 2026, a massive SCDMV text scam wave hit statewide, exploiting the agency's recent domain migration to .gov.
All 5 South Carolina Area Codes: Ranked by Complaints
| Rank | Area Code | Region | Numbers | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 803 | Columbia | 20,434 | 47,274 | 2.3 | 62.8% | #46 |
| 2 | 864 | Greenville / Upstate | 15,117 | 38,556 | 2.6 | 72.2% | #94 |
| 3 | 843 | Charleston / Myrtle Beach | 15,372 | 36,647 | 2.4 | 72.6% | #109 |
| 4 | 839 | Columbia (overlay) | 3,155 | 7,898 | 2.5 | 44.0% | #316 |
| 5 | 854 | Greenville (overlay) | 3,038 | 7,374 | 2.4 | 51.4% | #320 |
| Total | 57,116 | 137,749 | 2.4 avg | 60.6% avg |
Columbia's 803 leads the state with 47,274 complaints, outpacing Charleston (843) by 29%. The overlay codes (839 at 44.0% and 854 at 51.4% in-state targeting) are heavily used for out-of-state campaigns, while the established codes (843 at 72.6% and 864 at 72.2%) serve primarily as neighbor spoofing tools against South Carolinians.
Columbia: South Carolina's Scam Hub
The Columbia metro is served by 803 (original) and 839 (overlay).
| Area Code | Coverage | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | Columbia / Midlands | 47,274 | 62.8% | Medical (4,959) |
| 839 | Columbia (overlay) | 7,898 | 44.0% | Debt (723, 81.1% robocall) |
| Columbia Metro | 55,172 |
Columbia generates 55,172 complaints, 40% of the state total. The 803 code leads with medical scams (4,959) and impersonation (4,026), while the 839 overlay has debt reduction as its #1 category with an 81.1% robocall rate and just 44% in-state targeting, following the nationwide overlay-as-campaign-vehicle pattern.
The "Injured Grandson" scam has been documented as a specific Columbia-area threat, targeting elderly residents by impersonating a family member in legal trouble.
Charleston and the Lowcountry
Charleston's 843 area code covers both the historic city and the Myrtle Beach tourism corridor.
| Area Code | Coverage | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | Charleston / Myrtle Beach | 36,647 | 72.6% | Medical (5,180) |
The 843 area code has the highest in-state targeting in South Carolina at 72.6%, indicating it is primarily used for neighbor spoofing against local residents. Medical scams lead at 5,180 complaints. Vacation and timeshare scams rank #6 at 252 complaints, reflecting Myrtle Beach's tourism economy.
Charleston Police investigated 5 senior citizen scam cases with victims aged 61 to 85 and losses of $7,000 to $10,000 per case. Three victims were directed to Bitcoin ATMs while the scammer stayed on the phone. In February 2026, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office began delaying inmate booking postings online to combat bail scams, after 188 fraud reports and 8 confirmed jail bail scams between October 2024 and October 2025.
The Horry County Sheriff's Office (Myrtle Beach area) receives 25+ scam reports per day, with victims losing up to $40,000 per incident. In one documented case, a woman avoided a sheriff impersonation scam because the caller mispronounced "Horry" County (locally pronounced "oh-REE"), an accidental tell that saved her from the fraud.
Greenville and the Upstate
The 864 Greenville/Spartanburg area code has a notable anomaly in its impersonation data.
| Area Code | Coverage | Complaints | In-State % | Impersonation | Impersonation Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 864 | Greenville / Upstate | 38,556 | 72.2% | 4,214 | 45.9% |
| 803 | Columbia | 47,274 | 62.8% | 4,026 | 65.6% |
Greenville's impersonation robocall rate of just 45.9% is the lowest of any South Carolina area code. More than half of impersonation calls in the Upstate use live operators, making them harder for carrier screening to detect and more effective at extracting personal information.
The state's most-reported phone number, (864) 223-7147, is a Greenville number with 885 complaints. Of those, 860 (97.2%) are categorized as government/business impersonation with just a 5% robocall rate, making it one of the most concentrated live-operator impersonation numbers in our entire database.
South Carolina's Scam Category Profile
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical and prescriptions | 16,709 | 60.1% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 13,659 | 58.5% |
| 3 | Debt reduction | 8,465 | 71.0% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 3,102 | 64.7% |
| 5 | Charities | 1,614 | 52.7% |
| 6 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 1,326 | 56.6% |
| 7 | Vacation and timeshares | 933 | 37.9% |
| 8 | Home security and alarms | 853 | 63.2% |
Medical scams lead by 22% over impersonation (16,709 vs. 13,659), driven by the state's large senior population. Vacation and timeshares rank #7 with 933 complaints (37.9% robocall), concentrated in the 843 Myrtle Beach area. Home security and alarms at 853 complaints is elevated compared to most states, appearing in 270 Western KY (230) and 334 Montgomery AL data as well across the broader Southern region.
The SCDMV Text Scam Wave
In March 2026, a massive wave of fraudulent text messages impersonating the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles hit residents statewide. The texts claimed unpaid traffic violations and threatened license suspension with links to fake payment portals.
The timing was not accidental. SCDMV had migrated to a .gov domain in January 2026, and scam texts used the old-format URLs that many residents still recognized. SCDMV confirmed it never collects tickets or threatens suspension by text. This is part of the same nationwide smishing campaign that targeted Wisconsin (fake DOT tolls) and Kentucky (fake KYTC violations) in the same timeframe.
Dominion Energy and Duke Energy Scams
South Carolina is served by two major utilities, both targeted by scammers.
| Utility | Coverage | Scam Pattern | Report To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy | Lowcountry / Midlands | Spoofs exact customer service number, threatens 30-minute disconnection | (800) 251-7234 |
| Duke Energy Carolinas | Upstate / Piedmont | Disconnection threats, prepaid card demands | (800) 777-9898 |
Dominion Energy issued a fresh warning in March 2026 as part of National Consumer Protection Week. Scammers spoof Dominion's exact caller ID, making it appear the call is from Dominion's real number. The Newberry County Sheriff's office specifically warned about Dominion impersonation calls targeting rural customers.
Top 10 Most Reported South Carolina Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (864) 223-7147 | 885 | Impersonation (97.2%) |
| 2 | (864) 344-2799 | 453 | Impersonation (97.1%) |
| 3 | (864) 310-7921 | 153 | Mixed |
| 4 | (803) 265-3183 | 146 | Robocaller (84%), dropped calls |
| 5 | (843) 593-5812 | 144 | Mixed |
| 6 | (843) 459-1469 | 110 | Impersonation (64.5%) |
| 7 | (864) 662-9282 | 104 | Mixed |
| 8 | (864) 255-5000 | 102 | Medical (17.6%), mixed |
| 9 | (843) 376-5497 | 98 | Robocaller (97%) |
| 10 | (843) 226-4417 | 90 | Mixed |
The two most-reported numbers in South Carolina are both live-operator government impersonation lines from the 864 Greenville area code. (864) 223-7147 has 860 of 885 complaints (97.2%) for impersonation at just 5% robocall rate. (864) 344-2799 has 440 of 453 complaints (97.1%) for impersonation at 40% robocall rate. Combined, these two numbers have 1,338 impersonation complaints, more than many entire area codes have for any single category.
Neighbor Spoofing: Established vs. Overlay
| Highest In-State | % | Lowest In-State | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 843 Charleston | 72.6% | 839 Columbia overlay | 44.0% |
| 864 Greenville | 72.2% | 854 Greenville overlay | 51.4% |
| 803 Columbia | 62.8% |
South Carolina's statewide average of 60.6% in-state targeting is the second-lowest in our full series behind Massachusetts (56.1%). The overlay codes (839 at 44% and 854 at 51.4%) are heavily used for out-of-state campaigns, while established codes (843 at 72.6% and 864 at 72.2%) serve local neighbor spoofing.
South Carolina vs. Other States
| State | Area Codes | Complaints | Unique Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 5 | 147,981 | 502 at #17 nationally (debt hub) |
| Wisconsin | 5 | 154,317 | New $10K spoofing law |
| South Carolina | 5 | 137,749 | #7 fraud state, 20.4% seniors, AG leads Robocall Roundup |
| Minnesota | 7 | 121,047 | First restitution fund |
South Carolina's combination of a large elderly population (20.4% age 65+), active tourism economy, military installations (Fort Jackson, Joint Base Charleston, Parris Island, Shaw AFB), and rapid population growth creates ideal conditions for phone scam operations. The FTC reported military-connected consumers lost $584 million nationally in 2024, and SC's military bases make the state a target for those campaigns.
What South Carolinians Can Do
- Check any suspicious number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. South Carolina has 57,116 known scam numbers in our database.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the SC Consumer Affairs at consumer.sc.gov or 1-800-922-1594.
- Dominion Energy and Duke Energy never threaten disconnection by phone. If someone claims your power will be shut off in 30 minutes, hang up. Dominion: (800) 251-7234. Duke Carolinas: (800) 777-9898.
- SCDMV never contacts you by text about traffic tickets. Any text claiming unpaid violations with a payment link is a scam. The SCDMV migrated to a .gov domain in January 2026.
- Protect elderly family members. Charleston Police documented seniors (ages 61-85) losing $7,000-$10,000 per case, with three directed to Bitcoin ATMs. New York's SilverShield tool (launched January 2026) offers AI-powered scam detection for seniors.
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FAQ
Why does South Carolina rank so high for fraud?
South Carolina ranks #7 nationally for fraud reports with 80,000+ filed in 2024 (approximately 1,536 per 100,000 residents). Three factors drive this: 20.4% of the population is age 65 or older (one of the highest nationally), the state has rapid population growth creating transient communities less familiar with local scam patterns, and the coastal tourism economy provides cover for vacation and timeshare scams. The state lost $8.5 million to scams and identity theft in 2025.
What is the SCDMV text scam?
In March 2026, massive waves of texts impersonated the South Carolina DMV, claiming unpaid traffic violations and threatening license suspension. The scam exploited SCDMV's January 2026 domain migration by using old-format URLs that some residents still recognized. SCDMV confirmed it never collects tickets, threatens suspension, or contacts residents by text for payment. This is part of a nationwide smishing campaign also hitting Wisconsin and Kentucky.
Which South Carolina area code has the most scam calls?
803 Columbia leads with 47,274 complaints, ranking #46 nationally. 864 Greenville follows at 38,556 (#94) and 843 Charleston at 36,647 (#109). The two most-reported phone numbers statewide are both from the 864 area code with a combined 1,338 government impersonation complaints at near-zero robocall rates, indicating sophisticated live-operator scam operations.
Are Dominion Energy calls about disconnection real?
No. Dominion Energy confirmed they never threaten immediate disconnection by phone or demand payment through prepaid cards, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Scammers spoof Dominion's exact customer service number so it appears legitimate on caller ID. If you receive a disconnection threat, hang up and call Dominion directly at (800) 251-7234. Duke Energy Carolinas uses the same pattern and can be verified at (800) 777-9898.
How do I report a scam call in South Carolina?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to SC Consumer Affairs at consumer.sc.gov or 1-800-922-1594, and to the SC AG at scag.gov. AG Alan Wilson leads Operation Robocall Roundup, the 51-state enforcement initiative. For military-related scams, also report to the FTC's military complaint line and your installation's legal office.
