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Department of Consumer Affairs details how consumers can file complaints and report scams
Summary
The Department of Consumer Affairs explained how South Carolina residents can file consumer complaints and report scams or identity theft, described online and paper filing options, and noted the agency’s outreach resources including presentations and downloadable toolkits.
Carrie Grube Limarker, administrator and consumer advocate for the Department of Consumer Affairs, outlined how consumers can file complaints and report scams during a department webinar. She said the agency handles individual consumer complaints against businesses and offers mediation, referrals and educational resources.
Limarker said most complaints are not regulated by other agencies and are resolved through voluntary mediation. "If the business or issue is regulated by another state or federal agency, we'll kick it over to them," she said. She described several ways to file: an online complaint form accessed from the "How do I" or "Consumer Complaint" links at consumer.sc.gov, downloadable forms that can be emailed to scdca@scconsumer.gov or mailed, and a main office phone line at (803) 734-4200.
The agency also accepts scam reports and maintains an identity theft unit that provides one‑on‑one guidance to victims. Limarker said DCA posts monthly scam and identity‑theft data on its website and that the identity‑theft team maintains toolkits and tiered instructions for common cases such as income‑tax fraud. "We can provide 1 on 1 guidance to help mitigate that identity theft event," she said.
DCA offers multiple outreach options for partners, including free presentations, event tables and mail‑order brochures. Limarker said the department has provided nearly 700 presentations in five years and runs weekly Wednesday webinars. Materials such as the "Ditch the Pitch" scam guide and other brochures are available for download or in limited quantities by mail.
The webinar included a question‑and‑answer segment clarifying jurisdictional limits: DCA handles civil enforcement and mediation and refers criminal matters to law enforcement or federal partners when appropriate. Limarker urged consumers to use the agency’s online tools and contact the department for assistance and presentation requests.
