The Attorney General represents the State of South Carolina not individual citizens. The Attorney General serves as South Carolina’s Chief Prosecutor, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Securities Officer.
The Attorney General’s Office investigations are very specific and limited to our scope of work predominately in the areas of Grand Jury matters, Insurance and Medicaid Fraud, and Internet Crimes against Children.
Crimes must be reported to the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the matter. If an agency has opted not to investigate your reported incident you may make a complaint through the chain of command within the local law enforcement agency. If still dissatisfied, you may inquire with your local Solicitor’s Office. Our office does not retain investigative staff for local matters and we do not have authority over law enforcement agencies.
The Attorney General issues legal opinions by written request about specific legal questions asked by elected or appointed government officials. Opinions are not provided to individual citizens. Your legislator may write to the Opinions Division to request an opinion on your behalf. Click here to view current and archived opinions.
The Attorney General cannot represent you with your legal matter. By law, the Attorney General cannot provide legal advice, interpretation of statutes or representation for private citizens. You may contact the SC Bar Association/Lawyer Referral Service
The South Carolina Bar will provide referrals to a lawyer based on an individual’s legal situation and need. All lawyers must be in good standing with the SC Bar, maintain malpractice insurance coverage, and agree to provide one-half hour consultation for no more than $50. Afterwards the attorney’s rates apply.
South Carolina Bar Association
Lawyer Referral Service
Post Office Box 608
Columbia, South Carolina 29202
Phone: 1-800-868-2284 or 1-803-799-7100
Pursuant to S. C. Code § 33-31-1403, in connection with a non-profit dissolution, please provide the Attorney General’s Office with a summary of the plan of dissolution, which would include, but be limited to, the following:
Please mail the plan summary to:
South Carolina Attorney General’s Office
Attn: Nonprofit Dissolutions
PO Box 11549
Columbia, SC 29201
The Attorney General’s Office does not interpret laws for citizens. By law, the Attorney General cannot provide legal advice, interpretation of statutes or representation for private citizens. You may visit https://www.sccourts.org/ to search for opinions and orders.
Click here view current and archived opinions from the Office of the Attorney General.
The SC Department of Consumer Affairs - Identity Theft Unit is a separate agency from the SC Attorney General's Office. For concerns regarding scams, identity theft, and business complaints please contact them directly by phone at 803-734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594 (in SC only) or click here to file a complaint form online.
To file a complaint against a business in South Carolina please contact the SC Department of Consumer Affairs.
Phone: 803-734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594 (In SC only)
You can report poor conditions about where you rent with the SC Department of Consumer Affairs.
Phone: 803-734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594 (In SC only)
Links to Helpful Resources:
The SC Attorney General’s Office does not investigate debt collectors. Please contact the SC Department of Consumer Affairs.
Phone: 803-734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594 (In SC only)
Additionally, you may wish to file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Phone: (855) 411-2372
You do have certain rights regarding debt collection. Click the below resource links to view more information.
Links to Helpful Resources:
To mediate complaints such as tampering with an odometer or giving a false odometer statement, warranty/service/repair issues, financing issues, dealer selling faulty vehicles, dealer failed to meet all terms and conditions contained in the written contract, or dealer publishing or circulating advertising that is misleading or inaccurate please contact the SC Department of Consumer Affairs
Phone: 803-734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594 (In SC only)
For other complaints such as an undelivered title within 45 days of the sale, undelivered paperwork needed to register a customer's vehicle, dealer did not pay off lienholder, or dealer went out of business before providing a customer with paperwork please contact the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles Dealer License and Audit Unit.
South Carolina has a lemon law that applies only to new vehicles. This law protects consumers who purchase or lease a new car, if the new car turns out to be defective. New means: (1) the vehicle was sold to a dealer by the manufacturer, (2) it was only used for test drives and (3) title has not been issued. For more information on the lemon law click here.
By law, we cannot provide representation for individuals and do not have investigative staff for such matters.
Links to Helpful Resources:
The SC Department of Consumer Affairs serves as the state's consumer protection agency by providing mediation services for consumers and businesses. They also address scams, identity theft, and business complaints.
Phone: 803-734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594 (In SC only)
The Attorney General’s Office does not investigate identity theft. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs has an Identity Theft Unit to assist victims of this crime.
Phone: 803-734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594 (In SC only)
For complaints regarding billing or service issues, the Federal Communications Commission will serve your complaint on your provider. Your provider has 30 days to send you a response to your complaint. You are encouraged to contact your provider to resolve your issue prior to filing a complaint.
Phone: 1-888-225-5322
Econsumer.gov is a partnership of more than 35 consumer protection agencies around the world. Your complaint helps authorities spot trends and combat fraud.
Timeshare complaints are handled through the South Carolina Real Estate Commission and you may contact them by phone at 803-896-4400.
HOAs are mutual benefit non-profits (benefitting only the members) and not for the benefit of the general public. If you wish to file a complaint regarding your HOA you may do so with the South Carolina Homeowner’s Association Ombudsman with the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office does not recognize International Marriages. International marriages and divorces can prove to be complicated as laws and requirements vary from country to country. You may wish to seek the advice of counsel. If you do not have an attorney the South Carolina Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service could be of assistance:
Phone:1-800-868-2284 or 1-803-799-7100
Mailing Address:
South Carolina Bar Association
Lawyer Referral Service
Post Office Box 608
Columbia, South Carolina 29202
Please contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or file a complaint online.
Links to Helpful Resources:
While the Attorney General’s Office addresses insurance and Medicaid fraud, we do not handle policy, claim, warranty, or billing issues.
Home warranty company complaints can be directed to the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
While the Attorney General’s Office addresses insurance and Medicaid fraud, we do not handle policy, claim, warranty, or billing issues. Please contact the South Carolina Department of Insurance to report an insurance policy or billing problem.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners can assist consumers in locating life insurance policies and annuity contracts of a deceased family member or close relationship.
Mailing Address
1100 Walnut Street
Suite 1500
Kansas City, MO 64106-2197
Phone: 1-816-783-8500
Hours of Operation:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Central Time)
Monday - Friday
If you suspect someone has committed any type of insurance fraud, call the South Carolina Insurance Fraud Hotline toll free - 1-888-95-FRAUD or submit a report online.
Once your report is submitted online, you will receive an email confirmation.
1-888-NO-CHEAT (1-888-662-4328) Tips can be made anonymously.
Report anything suspicious to Medicare. If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
To make a report about fraud or benefit misuse, please call 1-800-616-1309.
Bankruptcy fraud should be reported to the United States Department of Justice. Information about how to report bankruptcy fraud can be found online in the link below or by contacting the United States Trustee in South Carolina using the following contact information:
United States Trustee
1835 Assembly Street, Suite 953
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 765-5250
US Department Of Justice
When reporting unemployment fraud, please provide as many details as possible regarding the fraud you’re reporting including:
You do not have to provide your name or identifying information to file a fraud allegation unless you want to. Any contact information provided remains confidential.
S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce
Fraud Investigation Recovery Enforcement Unit
P.O. Box 995
Columbia, SC 29202
Fraud Hotline: 1-800-868-1488 (toll-free)
Our office does not investigate tax fraud. Tax fraud is handled by South Carolina Department of Revenue’s Security Center or federally, the IRS.
For South Carolina regulated moving companies please contact the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff.
Phone: 803-737-0984
For out of state moving companies contact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Phone: 1-888-DOT-SAFT
The Attorney General’s office investigates and prosecutes Internet Crimes Against Children. Other Internet crimes do not fall within the purview of the Attorney General's Office. Internet fraud is investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. You will need to report your documentation to their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) portal as they only accept notification through their internet system at - https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.
You may contact local law enforcement or the South Carolina Department of Social Services to report violations.
You may contact the South Carolina Department on Aging at 1-800-868-9095. Visit https://www.sciway.net/org/seniors.html for resource listings by county.
Child support and paternity are handled by the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Phone: 1-800-768-5858
Contact the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control for complaints about a health care facility or nursing home. To ensure that we have the necessary information please complete the Complaint Form (DHEC Form 0284). If you have additional supporting documentation please submit that along with the form.
Our office does not oversee law enforcement officers nor do we have any authority over the law enforcement divisions in our state.
Concerns pertaining to law enforcement are typically addressed through the chain of command within the division. If you have already contacted the Chief of Police for your local law enforcement division, you may escalate your complaint to the county sheriff’s office.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)may investigate a law enforcement agency depending on the nature of the complaint. https://www.sled.sc.gov/
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice is authorized to investigate law enforcement divisions.
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
The Attorney General’s Office does not investigate lawyers or judges complaints.
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel, a division of the South Carolina Judicial Department addresses complaints regarding lawyers and judges licensed to practice law in South Carolina.
South Carolina Judicial Department
Office of Disciplinary Counsel
P.O. Box 12159
Columbia, SC 29201
Lawyer complaints - (803) 734-2037
Judicial complaints - (803) 734-1965
Our Office has no oversight over the Judicial Branch of government.
SC Court complaints or concerns can be addressed through the South Carolina Court Administration and they may be reached at (803) 734-1800.
South Carolina State Ethics Commission
201 Executive Center Drive, Suite 150
Columbia, SC 29210
Office: (803) 253-4192
This includes local governments, police and sheriff's departments, and school districts.
The Governor’s Office Government Ombudsman can assist with additional state resources.
Wade Hampton Building
1205 Pendleton Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Telephone: (803) 734-5049
The Attorney General’s Office does not investigate other state agencies. Complaints for agencies that fall under the Executive Branch are handled by the South Carolina Office of the Inspector General.
These are the agencies under the Executive Branch:
Hotline: 1-855-723-7283
For all other complaints visit:
Our office does not have oversight of the Department of Corrections which is a cabinet agency in state government. You may find these contacts useful in addressing your concerns:
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Synergy Business Park;
Kingstree Building
110 Centerview Dr.
Columbia, South Carolina 29210
Link to professions covered under the agency SCLLR:
Any issues or complaints regarding a polling place on Election Day should first be addressed to the poll managers. Poll managers may be able to quickly resolve the issue. If not resolved at the polling place, or if the issue or complaint is regarding some other aspect of the election, voters should contact their county elections office. To find your election office please visit:
The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission was created by the General Assembly in 1972 to encourage fair treatment, eliminate and prevent unlawful discrimination, and foster mutual understanding and respect among all people in this state.
SC Human Affairs Commission
1026 Sumter Street Suite 101
Columbia, SC 29201
U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina
Attn: Civil Rights Program
1441 Main Street, Suite 500,
Columbia, 29201.
Fax: (803) 733-5966