Learn to Protect Your Money and Avoid Scams During Financial Literacy Month

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Join the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) as we celebrate National Financial Literacy Month this April. SCDCA is offering a series of educational events and sharing resources to help you manage money wisely and stay safe from identity theft and scams. 

Consumers are encouraged to grab a device and log in to a series of free webinars. To register for a specific webinar, click the title links below: 

• April 1 at 10:30 a.m. – April Fools’ Day: Imposter Scams – Scammers often pretend to be people or companies that you know and trust. We’ll go over the common red flags of an imposter scam and how you can protect yourself.
• April 8 at 10:30 a.m. –Making Sense of Money: Money Basics – Learn about the strategies you can use to build a budget and safely manage your credit.
• April 15 at 10:30 a.m. – Credit Reports and Scores Demystified – Find out how credit reports and scores are used, what you should be looking for when reading your credit reports and some of the common credit myths.
• April 22 at 10:30 a.m. – Understanding Your Electric Bill –You may be looking at your electric bill and wondering what is on it. Learn about the charges, rates and other information that may appear on your bill.
• April 29 at 10:30 a.m. – Debt Collection FAQs and Scams – Have you received a call about a debt you don't recognize? Before you pay, know the steps you can take to confirm a debt is yours.

SCDCA’s goal is to spread financial education to as many South Carolinians as we can. Take advantage of the services below to increase your financial literacy: 

• Order a copy of SCDCA’s  publication “Credit Reports: What They Are and Why They Matter.”  Consumers can request up to 50 copies of the comprehensive guide by completing SCDCA’s online publication request form.
• Checkout our free financial literacy resources for all ages, including the LifeSmarts consumer challenge for teens, are available on the SCDCA Consumer Resources page.
• Invite our trained staff to present on topics such as identity theft, credit reports, scams, financial literacy and more. In 2025, we traveled the state and gave 229 educational presentations to approximately 6,367 consumers and business representatives. Request a presentation for your church group, civic organization or club today.
• Follow SCDCA on Facebook and X to receive financial literacy tips throughout April and learn ways to protect your personal identifying information. 

About SCDCA

Established in 1974, DCA has more than fifty years of experience in protecting South Carolina consumers while recognizing those businesses that act honestly and fairly. Cultivating a marketplace comprised of well-informed consumers and businesses prevents deceptive and unfair business practices, allows legitimate business activity to flourish, resulting in the promotion of competition and a healthier economy.

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