Columbia, SC…With the recent tragedies in Boston and Texas, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) is urging consumers to be wary of scammers who pose as charities.

Scam artists follow the headlines and often tailor their fraud attempts to current events in an effort to profit from consumer kindness. As SCDCA saw with the Gulf Coast Oil Spill, we anticipate scammers will contact consumers in an effort to solicit money for phony charities to benefit the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings or West, Texas fire. 

Authorities would like to warn citizens about a current calling scam offering grants and rebates.

Thursday Community Leaders, Media, Law Enforcement and Citizen Volunteers gathered together to celebrate 30 years of Crimestoppers – 30 successful years of community involvement and anonymity.

During the 30 year anniversary celebration, families of crime victim’s, law enforcement and community activists gathered at South Carolina Bank and Trust Headquarters Building in Columbia to honor a program that has done so much for the State and our citizens.