Columbia, SC…With the recent tragedies in Boston and Texas, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) is urging consumers to be wary of scammers who pose as charities.

Scam artists follow the headlines and often tailor their fraud attempts to current events in an effort to profit from consumer kindness. As SCDCA saw with the Gulf Coast Oil Spill, we anticipate scammers will contact consumers in an effort to solicit money for phony charities to benefit the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings or West, Texas fire. 

The Columbia Police Department has been providing complimentary self-defense classes for women for the past several months. They have been both educational and successful.

The classes take place at 1517 Taylor Street in Columbia and all classes are at 5:30 p.m. on the following days in 2013:

February 11
March 18
April 15
May 13
June 10
July 15
August 12
September 16
October 21
November 18
December 9
 

There are only 30 slots available for each class.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott is asking for the community's assistance in locating a Midlands Deadbeat Parent.  Sheriff Leon Lott says that Anthony Johnson (DOB: 12/13/1966) is wanted for failure to pay child support in excess of $58,000.

Sheriff Leon Lott states that anyone wanted for failure to pay child support should turn themselves in to the Richland County Sheriff's Department Warrant Division located at 1400 Huger Street or call 576-2392. And if you or anyone else knows the location Johnson or any fugitive, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.