Annual State of Consumer Protection in South Carolina: Top Trends, Biggest Scams, and How We Helped Clients
Dave Maxfield

Each year, new consumer protection issues emerge across South Carolina — from credit reporting errors and identity theft to predatory lending and digital scams. At Dave Maxfield Attorney, LLC, based in Columbia, South Carolina, we’ve spent over 30 years standing up for consumers when big companies, lenders, and debt collectors don’t play fair.

 

Here’s our look back at the current state of consumer protection in South Carolina: the key trends shaping the year, the scams causing the most harm, and how we’ve helped South Carolina consumers fight back.

1. Digital Scams, Bank Fraud, and Phishing in the Midlands

Online scams targeting South Carolina residents have exploded exponentially in recent years. Fake debt collection calls, phishing emails (often appearing to be from PayPal or Apple) and texts posing as bank security or the "fraud department,"  and social media investment schemes are among the most common.  Many of these target the elderly specifically. 

 

These scams often prey on fear and urgency — asking for payments or personal details. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney General’s Office issue regular warnings, but new scams evolve faster than public awareness.

 

Our firm helps clients recover financially and legally after falling victim to these deceptive tactics, often by tracing fraudulent accounts and disputing the resulting credit damage.

2. Identity Theft and Data Breaches on the Rise

South Carolina residents continue to face a surge in identity theft and data breach incidents. Major breaches at retailers, financial institutions, and healthcare providers have left thousands of South Carolinians vulnerable to fraud.

 

Under the South Carolina Financial Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Protection Act (S.C. Code § 37-20-110 et seq.), companies are required to notify consumers after a breach and protect sensitive data — but too often, they fail to act quickly or transparently.

At our firm, we’ve helped clients in Columbia, Lexington, and across the state recover from data breaches and clean up credit report damage caused by fraudulent accounts.

3. Credit Reporting Errors and Mixed Files

Another growing issue in South Carolina is inaccurate credit reporting. Errors like mixed files (where someone else’s accounts appear on your report) and incorrect late payments can tank a consumer’s credit score and block access to loans, jobs, or housing.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumers have the right to accurate credit reports and to dispute errors — but national credit bureaus often fail to fix them.

 

At Dave Maxfield Attorney, LLC, we’ve taken on cases where clients’ credit reports were riddled with false information, helping them correct inaccuracies and hold credit reporting agencies accountable.

4. Auto Dealer and Lending Abuses

South Carolina consumers continue to face deceptive practices from auto dealers and lenders — including hidden fees, “yo-yo” financing, and failure to disclose prior damage. These abuses fall under the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act (SCUTPA) and federal consumer finance laws.

 

We’ve represented South Carolina car buyers who were pressured into signing unfair contracts, charged for junk add-ons, or tricked into taking vehicles back after “spot delivery.” Holding dealers accountable not only helps our clients but also deters future misconduct.

 

5. How We Helped South Carolina Consumers This Year

At Dave Maxfield Attorney, LLC, our mission has always been clear: to protect South Carolina consumers from unfair treatment by corporations, lenders, and data handlers.

In the past year, we’ve:

  • Made significant recoveries on behalf of elder and bank fraud victims.

  • Corrected credit reporting errors that kept clients from qualifying for mortgages -- and recovered compensation from creditors and reporting agencies.

  • Helped families secure compensation after data breaches and identity theft.

  • Fought deceptive auto financing schemes and recovered damages for affected buyers.

Every case is about restoring fairness — and making sure big companies follow the same laws the rest of us must obey.

6. Looking Ahead: Strengthening South Carolina Consumer Rights

Consumer protection in South Carolina is constantly evolving. Lawmakers and regulators continue to address emerging threats like AI-driven fraud, unauthorized data sharing, and corporate negligence in safeguarding personal information.

 

At Dave Maxfield Attorney, LLC, we’ll continue tracking these trends and advocating for stronger safeguards for South Carolina residents.

Whether it’s a credit report error, debt collection harassment, or auto dealer fraud, South Carolina consumers deserve transparency, honesty, and accountability from every company they do business with.

About Dave Maxfield Attorney, LLC

Dave Maxfield Attorney, LLC is a leading consumer protection law firm in Columbia, South Carolina, representing clients across the state in cases involving:

  • Credit reporting and identity theft

  • Debt collection and harassment

  • Auto dealer and lender misconduct

  • Mortgage and banking errors

  • Data breach and privacy violations

For over 30 years, Dave Maxfield has fought for South Carolina consumers, focusing on fairness, accountability, and results.