Authorities Warn of Persistent Scams Targeting Residents

Local authorities in Oconee County and neighboring Clemson are urging residents to stay vigilant against ongoing fraud schemes. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office highlighted in its monthly update a banking text scam where a victim responded to a fraudulent message alerting them to a $1,530 suspicious charge, leading to a follow-up call from a scammer who used personal details to gain account access and transfer funds without authorization; officials strongly advise ignoring such texts, contacting banks directly for verification, and regularly monitoring accounts.

The update also noted reports of Medicare beneficiaries receiving statements billing for unrendered services, recommending careful review, prompt reporting to Medicare for charge removal and fraud probes, and filing police reports when victimized. Cpl. Jimmy Watt says anyone can be the victim of a scam…

Separately, the City of Clemson has reissued warnings about a persistent scam—first flagged in summer 2025—involving fake invoice emails mimicking communications from the Planning & Development Department, complete with city letterhead and details from public applications or agendas, demanding large payments often via wire transfer. Recipients should look for red flags like wire requests, misspellings, or unofficial emails and verify directly with the department at 864-653-2050.