Social Media Use Suspected in Scam Attempt

Last week, a local business was solicited by an inmate currently incarcerated in South Carolina, who asked for $100 for his canteen (commissary) and in exchange he would pay the business back $150.

Though Larry Edward Chandler, Jr. apparently has no ties to the community, nor has he ever visited Glasgow, he somehow had personal knowledge of the business and employees. Given his familiarity with the business (including products offered), local law enforcement believes Chandler used a false social media account to glean information which he then used to pose as a regular customer.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections prohibits the use of cell phones and social media sites by offenders in their custody, saying it constitutes a security violation and is possession of contraband.

However, media sources suggest that cell phones have joined drugs and weapons as the contraband of choice in correctional facilities. Their investigation found that many used the phones to stay in touch or for entertainment, but that some inmates used the unmonitored phones to continue criminal activity, as might be what happened here.

The National Crime Prevention Council advises there are four major dangers to using social media: over-sharing information, users setting up fake accounts, using location-based services, and sharing photos.

The Valley County Sheriff's Office encourages people to exercise caution when using social media, noting that these websites can make it easier for scammers to cull information to use against you in their attempts to con you out of your money.

For tips on how to protect yourself online, visit http://www.ncpc.org/topics/internet-safety/social-networking-safety