Fake fraud investigator sends one text and is able to steal $20,000 from victim, authorities say (2024)

IT’S TIME FOR NEWS TO GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES. TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. BUT WE BEGIN WITH THE GREENVILLE COUNTY DEPUTY, THE SHERIFF’S CANINE, WHO IS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY THIS MORNING AFTER IT WAS STABBED BEFORE A DEPUTY INVOLVED SHOOTING SKY4 FOR GIVING EXCLUSIVE LOOK OVER THE AREA OF WADE HAMPTON BOULEVARD AND PINE KNOLL DRIVE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. SHERIFF HOBART LEWIS SAYS DEPUTIES WERE HELPING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SERVE A WARRANT FOR A MAN WANTED ON FELONY CHARGES OUT OF SPARTANBURG COUNTY. THE SUSPECT, WHOSE NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, WAS TAKEN INTO THE HOSPITAL. LEWIS SAYS DEPUTIES WILL RELEASE A CRITICAL INCIDENT VIDEO ON JUNE 27TH. SLED IS INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. MORE THAN 1000 GREENVILLE CUSTOMERS ARE WITHOUT POWER. DUKE ENERGY REPORTING THAT OUTAGE IS IN THE PELHAM ROAD AREA NEAR THE PARKWAY. IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT CAUSED THAT OUTAGE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IMPACTED RIGHT THERE ON YOUR SCREEN AND THE ESTIMATED TIME OF RESTORATION IS AT 9 A.M. IN LAWRENCE COUNTY, AUTHORITIES ARE STILL LOOKING FOR WHO’S BEHIND A DEADLY SHOOTING AT THE WARE SHOALS DRAGWAY. AND NOW DEPUTIES ARE ASKING FOR VIDEOS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT. DEPUTIES SAY THAT SHOOTING HAPPENED AROUND 9 P.M. DURING THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CAR AND BIKE SHOW. THE CORONER SAYS 17 YEAR OLD CALVIN PARKER, JUNIOR, FROM GREENWOOD, DIED FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND. DEPUTIES ARE ASKING FOR VIDEO TAKEN BEFORE OR DURING OR AFTER THE SHOOTING, AND WE’RE TOLD THE SENDERS OF THOSE VIDEOS WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS. YOU CAN SEND VIDEO TO THE EMAIL RIGHT THERE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER OF YOUR SCREEN. FROM THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, MATTHEW LOGUE, AN HAIR IN WASHINGTON, D.C. A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT THE NATIONAL MALL FOR OFFICERS WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. AMONG THEM, EASLEY POLICE OFFICER MATTHEW HEYER. THE NAMES OF FALLEN OFFICERS WERE READ ALOUD. THEIR NAMES HAVE ALSO BEEN ENGRAVED ON THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL. OFFICER HEYER DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, WHILE HELPING A PERSON WHO WAS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. THE 22 YEAR OLD OFFICER WAS SWORN IN BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2022. ON MONDAY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED IT WILL SEEK TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR ELECTION CRIMES FUELED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. DOJ OFFICIALS SAY USING AI TO THREATEN ELECTION WORKERS MAKES THE CRIME MORE DANGEROUS AND MORE IMPACTFUL. THE NEW POLICY APPLIES TO THE USE OF AI IN ANY ELECTION RELATED CRIME, NOT JUST VIOLENT THREATS AGAINST ELECTION WORKERS, BUT ALSO THINGS LIKE VOTER SUPPRESSION DURING THIS ELECTION CYCLE, AI TOOLS HAVE MADE IT EASIER TO MIMIC POLITICIANS VOICES AND LIKELINESS IN ORDER TO SPREAD FALSE INFORMATION IN. A RECORD NUMBER OF AMERICANS ARE EXPECTED TO FLY SOMEWHERE THIS SUMMER, WITH THE BIGGEST BOOST IN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BECAUSE OF NO COVID RESTRICTIONS. TRAVEL EXPERTS STRESS IT’S BEST TO BOOK PLANE TICKETS EARLY AND THEY ALSO SAY TO TRY TO GRAB RESERVATIONS ON THINGS LIKE HOTELS, CAR RENTALS AND EXCURSIONS EARLY. OFFICIALS WITH TRIPLE A SAY PLANNING AHEAD IS CRITICAL, PARTICULARLY WHEN TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY. EXPERTS ADD BEING MORE FLEXIBLE CAN ALSO GET YOU A BETTER RATE ON YOUR PLANE TICKET, BECAUSE BOOKING EARLIER FLIGHTS MEANS YOU’LL HAVE MORE OPTIONS IN CASE YOUR FLIGHT GETS DELAYED OR CANCELED. THE CITY OF GREENVILLE DELIVERED ITS FIRST EVER STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS MONDAY. IT IS A STORY YOU’LL ONLY SEE ON FOUR. CITY MANAGER SHANNON LAVRIN TELLS NEWS FOUR THAT CITY COUNCIL WANTED GREENVILLE TO HAVE A SORT OF REPORT CARD ON THE CITY’S PROGRESS AND PLANS. WE MADE LOTS OF CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE ZONING PROCESS TO RESPOND TO THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT THAT REALLY SHOWS OUR LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE WANT TO BE. AND HOW WE WANT TO INTERACT WITH OUR CITIZENS AND GREENVILLE IS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF OUR CITIZENS. LEBRON SAYS THE CITY IS STRONG FINANCIALLY. WE’RE TOLD IT IS SAFER THAN IN THE PAST DECADE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GROWING IN ANDERSON. ELECTROLUX GROUP IS PARTNERING WITH ANDERSON INTERFAITH MINISTRIES TO HOST A HAMPER AND LAUNDRY BASKET DONATION EVENT. IT’S ALL PART OF THEIR MISSION. SHAPE EVERYDAY LIVES FOR THE BETTER. OUR JAMYA JAMYA JOINS US LIVE IN ANDERSON COUNTY THIS MORNING TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS. JAMIA. THAT’S RIGHT AARON APPLIANCE COMPANY IS GIVING AWAY THOUSANDS OF LAUNDRY BASKETS TO PEOPLE IN NEED HERE AT ANDERSON INTERFAITH MINISTRIES. THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME THAT ELECTROLUX GROUP HAS WORKED WITH THIS NONPROFIT. THEY GAVE THEM AIR CONDITIONER UNITS LAST YEAR. ELECTROLUX IS DONATING 5000 LUX CARE FOLDABLE HAMPER AND LAUNDRY BASKETS VALUED AT MORE THAN $90,000 TO ANDERSON INTERFAITH MINISTRIES, OR AME, TO HAND OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED. ELECTROLUX IS A LEADING APPLIANCE COMPANY THAT SELLS HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS IN AROUND 120 MARKETS EVERY YEAR. LAUNDRY BASKETS SERVE AS STORAGE BAGS AND CARRIERS TO HAUL CLOTHES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH AME HOPE MISSIONS AND CLEAN START, AMONG OTHERS. ELECTRIC LUX EMPLOYEES ARE PAUSING THEIR WORK DAYS TO TAKE PART IN THIS CAUSE. EMPLOYEES WILL START UNLOADING THOSE LAUNDRY BASKETS STARTING AT 9 A.M. FROM AN 18 WHEELER. LIVE IN ANDERSON. JAMIE REID, WYFF NEWS FOUR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JAMIE. HEY GOOD MORNING. IT’S A LIVE SUPER DOPPLER FOUR IMPACT DAY. LET’S TAKE A LIVE LOOK AT DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE. LOOK AT THAT PAVEMENT. IT’S WET. WE DID GET SOME RAINFALL. WE’VE GOT SOME LOW LYING CLOUDS AT THE MOMENT AS WELL. DRY ACROSS MUCH OF GREENVILLE COUNTY, BUT WE’VE GOT SOME MORE RAIN ON THE WAY. 50S AND 60S, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, A LITTLE BIT WARMER IN ELBERTON AND ABBEVILLE, 64 DEGREES FOR YOU. THERE GOES THE RAINFALL RUTHERFORDTON. YOU’VE GOT SOME HEAVY AMOUNTS OF RAIN PUSHING INTO ALONG I-40. A LITTLE BIT MORE SPORADIC ACROSS GREENVILLE AND PICKENS COUNTY. HEY, LET’S TAKE A LOOK. WE’VE GOT SOME MORE RAIN ON THE WAY AS WE GO INTO LATER THIS MORNING. SO HIT AND MISS SHOWERS THIS MORNING AS WE GET INTO THIS AFTERNOON, HERE COMES THOSE ISOLATED DOWNPOURS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING TIME FRAME. THESE EXTRA CLOUDS, THESE SPOTTY SHOWERS, THAT’S GOING TO KEEP TEMPERATURES NEAR 70 DEGREES. IF YOU’RE HEADING OUT AND ABOUT, IT’S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT COOLER TODAY. BUT JUST KNOW YOU’LL BE DODGING A FEW OF THOSE STRAY SHOWERS FOR THE MOUNTAINS, ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON. AND TONIGHT. BY THE WAY, WE’RE GOING TO DO THIS AGAIN TOMORROW AFTERNOON. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS COMING UP IN ABOUT SIX MINUTES FROM RIGHT NOW. LET’S TAKE YOU OUTSIDE NOW FOR SOME BREAKING TRAFFIC NEWS WE’VE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR THE PAST FEW MINUTES. YOU’RE LOOKING LIVE AT I-85 NEAR PELHAM ROAD, AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LEFT HAND SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN THAT’S NORTHBOUND ON I-85. YOU CAN SEE THAT SLOW DOWN. THAT STARTED BECAUSE OF A CRASH NEAR SOUTH BATESVILLE ROAD. IT CLOSED THE LEFT LANE AND IT CAUSED THAT SLOWDOWN. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, IT’S SINCE EXTENDED CLOSER TO PELHAM ROAD. SO IF YOU’RE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON 85, CERTAINLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU LEAVE A LITTLE BIT EARLY THERE BECAUSE OF THAT SLOWDOWN. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR ACTUALLY OUR LIVE DRIVE RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN SEE OUR JARRETT MCDARIS HEADING INTO THAT AS WE SPEAK. THIS IS I-85 NEAR HIGHWAY 14. JUST A MESS IN THIS GENERAL AREA. GIVEN A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN ON THE ROADS AS WELL. JUST A RECIPE GIVEN THAT AND THE ACCIDENT FOR A LOT OF SLOWDOWNS. SO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THAT. LEAVE A FEW MINUTES EARLY. YOU CAN SEE IT REFLECTED THE TRAVEL TIMES HERE. 85 SOUTHBOUND FROM AIRPORT TO WOODRUFF ROAD IN THE RED AT 13 MINUTES, THE OTHER TWO IN THE GREEN AT 12 AND 14 MINUTES. SOUTH CAROLINA DOT WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT SEVERAL PROPOSED PROJECTS, INCLUDING ONE IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. THEY SAY THAT THESE PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE ONE IN GREENVILLE COUNTY, WILL LOOK INTO A BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT ON WADE HAMPTON BOULEVARD OVER MOUNTAIN CREEK TO SUBMIT COMMENTS. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN DO SO. YOU CAN LEAVE A COMMENT OR CONCERN. STARTING MAY 15TH THROUGH JUNE 14TH. AGAIN, THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN SUBMIT THOSE COMMENTS ARE THERE ON YOUR SCREEN. THE SUMMER SEASON IS ALMOST HERE, AND WE DO HAVE SOME REMINDERS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO USE THEIR GOLF CARTS. IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THE GOLF CART MUST BE INSURED, PERMITTED, AND REGISTERED WITH SCMV AND MUST REMAIN WITHIN FOUR MILES OF AN ADDRESS LISTED ON THE PERMIT, AND IT CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN ON SECONDARY ROADS WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MILES AN HOUR OR LESS, PLUS, THE GOLF CART CAN ONLY BE OPERATED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.