Beaufort Police Department Announces Fraud Prevention Class

News Summary

The Beaufort Police Department is organizing a free Fraud & Scam Prevention Class on April 29, 2025. The class aims to equip attendees with knowledge on how to identify and avoid scams and identity theft, in light of rising fraud cases reported in the area, particularly involving cryptocurrencies. No pre-registration is required, and the event will include insights from BPD Investigators.

Beaufort – The Beaufort Police Department is set to host a Fraud & Scam Prevention Class on April 29, 2025, aimed at empowering the community to combat fraud and identity theft.

Event Details:

• Date: April 29, 2025
• Time: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Beaufort Police Department, Boundary Street
• Cost: Free and open to the public

Attendees will gain valuable insights on:

• Spotting and avoiding scams
• Preventing identity theft
• Identifying red flags in suspicious situations
• Accessing insights through a Q&A session with BPD Investigators

No pre-registration is needed for this essential class, which comes amid increasing concerns over fraud, particularly involving cryptocurrencies.

In 2024, residents of Beaufort County reported losses of $3.1 million linked to cryptocurrency scams, with victims often manipulated into converting cash into cryptocurrency via ATMs. This rise in scams is contributing to a broader national issue, with U.S. losses from cryptocurrency thefts surpassing $1 billion since 2021, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Crucial points to note include:

• Scammers frequently impersonate police or government officials to demand payments in cryptocurrency.
• The older population, particularly in affluent communities like Hilton Head and Sun City, is being targeted.
• Concerns over unregulated cryptocurrency ATMs have been raised, especially as they can impose high transaction fees and enable scams to circumvent standard banking protections.
• Proposed legislation in South Carolina seeks to introduce stricter regulations on cryptocurrency transactions to better safeguard consumers.

For more information, residents are encouraged to attend and take proactive steps in protecting themselves against fraud.

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Additional Resources

• WSAV: Fraud and Scam Prevention Class in Beaufort
• Wikipedia: Fraud
• Island Packet: Local Crime News
• Google Search: Crypto Scams
• NBC News: South Carolina Seniors Crypto Scam
• Google Scholar: Cryptocurrency Scams
• Payments Journal: Senate Moves to Rein in Crypto ATM Scams
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Identity Theft
• Island Packet: Real Estate News
• Google News: Fraud Prevention