Cybercrime in South Carolina: The 2024 Numbers
South Carolina is facing a growing wave of cybercrime. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, South Carolinians lost a staggering $146 million to cybercrime last year—a $27 million increase from 2023. That puts South Carolina 22nd in the nation for reported cybercrime losses.
The most common types of reported attacks include:
- Extortion (1,384 incidents)
- Phishing/Spoofing (1,259 incidents)
- Personal Data Breaches (924 incidents)
And when it comes to money lost, these cybercrimes top the list:
- Business Email Compromise (BEC): $40.8 million
- Investment Fraud: $38.4 million
- Confidence/Romance Scams: $15.1 million
The report also found that victims age 60 and older suffered the greatest financial losses—$58.5 million in 2024 alone.
Real Victims, Real Consequences
Recent headlines have confirmed the FBI’s data. South Carolina residents and businesses have been hit hard:
- Krispy Kreme reported that over 7,000 South Carolina customers were impacted by a data breach.
- A South Carolina credit union, SRP Fedeeral Credit Union suffered a breach exposing data for 240,000 customer.
- The South Carolina Department of Education and multiple school districts experienced significant cyberattacks.
- Spartanburg County experienced countywide service outages after a cyber event.
- Healthcare providers across the state have faced ongoing hacking incidents.
These aren’t just headlines. They’re real attacks affecting your neighbors, coworkers, and possibly your own organization.
Small Business, Big Target
It’s a common misconception that only large corporations are targeted. But the data tells a different story:
- 73% of small businesses in the U.S. reported a cyberattack in the past year
- 46% of all digital breaches affect businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees
- 85% of ransomware attacks are aimed at small businesses
On average, an SMB loses $25,000 per cyberattack, and recovery costs can exceed $165,000 for smaller organizations.
What Makes SMBs So Vulnerable?
The perfect storm of limited resources and lack of awareness makes SMBs ideal targets:
- 51% have no cybersecurity measures in place
- Only 14% consider their cybersecurity highly effective
- 91% don’t carry cyber liability insurance
Human error remains a leading risk:
- 95% of breaches are linked to human mistakes
- 61% involve weak or compromised passwords
- 30% cite phishing as the top concern
How to Stay Ahead of the Threat
Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complex, but it does need to be proactive. Here are a few ways PremierePC can help:
1. Dark Web Monitoring
We scan the dark web for compromised credentials linked to your organization, alerting you to threats before criminals act. Learn more.
2. Email and Domain Security
We manage DNS records, configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and secure your email platform against spoofing and phishing. We also provide hosted email services that are secure and easy to manage.
3. Employee Security Training
We deliver ongoing, role-specific security awareness training that helps your team spot scams and avoid risky behavior.
4. Phishing Simulations
Our simulated phishing campaigns test your staff in real-world scenarios—then coach them to avoid mistakes in the future.
5. Vulnerability Scanning & Patch Management
We assess your network for weak points and help you stay ahead of software vulnerabilities. Read more.
6. Compliance and Risk Assessments
We offer built-in risk tools and help you stay aligned with HIPAA, PCI, and other compliance frameworks.
Ready to Protect Your Business?
Cybercrime is growing rapidly in South Carolina, but that doesn’t mean your business has to be next. Let’s talk about how we can improve your defenses and give you peace of mind.
Talk to us today about cybersecurity solutions tailored to your business.