Bitcoin scam compromises SC local’s identity

On Aug. 14, a complaint of identity theft was filed by a woman regarding an identity-thieving scheme that took place online disguised as a Bitcoin investment plan.

She spoke of her brother, who had been contacted by “Linda William” through texts, calls and over the internet.

“Linda” enticed the woman’s brother to get involved in a supposed “Bitcoin investment plan,” claiming to yield a return of $29,000, according to the incident report. “Linda” paid off the brother’s $2,000 phone bill to further draw him in and gain his trust. “Linda” said that the brother would need a beneficiary for this investment plan, and thus, his sister was selected.

She was promised $400 a week from “Linda” if she would advertise real estate on Facebook Marketplace on “Linda’s” behalf.

According to the incident report, it was shortly thereafter that the woman’s Marketplace account was “suspended by the Meta corporation.”

“Linda” asked for a photo of the woman’s social security card and driver’s license in order to complete the beneficiary form. The woman provided both forms of identification and was told that she would receive a single check for $8,000 that was to be deposited into an ATM.

Instead, the woman received “two checkbooks for a checking account opened at the JP Morgan Chase Bank in her name,” according to the incident report.

The victim has been advised to cease any and all communication with “Linda” and report any efforts of communication from “Linda” to the fraud department of Chase Bank and the Pickens County Sheriff’s office.
This case is active and is still under investigation.

Fire at Heritage Pointe

An active fire in an apartment complex in Clemson, South Carolina, resulted in $500 of property damage.

On Aug. 20, Heritage Pointe residents evacuated their homes at 11:06 p.m. The fire was active outside of the building. Most of it was tamed with a fire extinguisher from a responding officer’s patrol car, according to the report.

Clemson University Fire Department arrived on the scene and handled the remaining flames. According to the incident report, “there were no injuries or any interior damage caused by the fire.”

The Fire Department cleared the scene, and everyone was permitted to return to their apartments. The case has been left unfounded, lacking a base for a committed crime, the report concluded.