🌱 Hilton Head Retiree Sues In PayPal Scam + Lowcountry Project Budget

Hello all. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Hilton Head Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Humid with a thunderstorm. High: 87 Low: 68.
• Thursday: A shower and t-storm; windy. High: 76 Low: 66.

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Here are the top three stories today in Hilton Head:

1. A Hilton Head retiree (whose identity is being kept anonymous) fell victim to an eight-month-long scam after downloading a fraudulent email disguised as a PayPal notification. The email, which claimed her account had been hacked, prompted her to download a fake "customer support" software that granted scammers access to her personal information and bank accounts. The scammers proceeded to steal thousands of dollars from her accounts, leading her to withdraw large sums of cash for conversion to gift cards and cryptocurrency. PayPal, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo are now facing a lawsuit for allegedly failing to prevent the fraudulent transactions in accordance with consumer protection laws. (Yahoo! Life)
2. South Carolina State Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver embarked on her first major tour of school districts in the state, addressing crucial topics such as pre-K programs, reading improvement, teacher retention, and the ongoing controversy surrounding books in school libraries. Statistics reveal a growing number of open teaching positions, potentially reaching 1,200, emphasizing the need for further action to combat the issue. In an effort to limit attrition, Beaufort County has raised its teacher pay to the highest in the state. (WSAV 3)
3. Leaders in the House and Senate are expected to discuss plans for several Lowcountry projects this week — including an earmarked $750,000 to relocate a church currently on Hilton Head. While this and other local projects are not guaranteed to pass, they are currently included in the budget that is being reviewed by a conference committee of six representatives. Following this, the entire House and Senate will need to cast their vote on the bill, and Governor Henry McMaster will also need to give his approval. (Yahoo! News)

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Today and tomorrow in Hilton Head:

Wednesday, May 17

• Live Music At The Sandbar Beach Eats (6:00 PM)

Thursday, May 18

• Music & Taste On The Harbour At Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• According to meteorologist Victoria Kokinos, Lowcountry residents have seen an uptick in major storms in recent years. In addition to Tropical Storm Irma ravaging the region in 2017, 2016's Hurricane Matthew resulted in significant flooding in Hilton Head and across Beaufort County. (WJCL 22)
• It's only two weeks into sea turtle nesting season, and Sea Turtle Patrol already has 14 nests set aside here on Hilton Head Island. To stay up-to-date on the nest count through the season, keep an eye on seaturtlepatrolhhi.org. (Visit Hilton Head via Facebook)
• Congratulations to Hilton Head Fire Rescue's 911 Communications Center, which recently earned Agency Training Program Certification from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International! APCO certification signifies that the center's training meets the rigorous standards required of public safety responders. (Town of Hilton Head Island Government via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.