SC Detachment Commandants,

Be aware that there is a scam being run in SC.  Two SC Detachment Officers have been contacted in the below described way, and both lost personal funds, attempting to assist an alleged Marine/MCL member. The first was in August, the second this month, both apparently by the same crooks, and since it has been successful, it will probably be attempted again.

The initial contact comes from someone claiming to be a MCL Detachment Commandant or a retired Marine officer in Missouri, who says he found your name and phone on the National website.  The phone used in both of the above cases was (417) 499 - 0567 (Joplin, MO area code).  (This may be someone living, or temporarily working in SC,  with a cell phone bought/registered in Joplin, MO.)  This scam will probably also change slightly, if used again.

The fake commandant, or officer, says that one of his detachment/family members, a Marine, has had some problems in your area on the Interstate, usually vehicle trouble, and that the Marine needs some financial assistance, to get home (which will be reimbursed by the caller or his detachment, as soon as he or his detachment can get to a Western Union Office or UPS Overnight to send you the funds), and then there may be more calls over a couple of hours, describing the needy Marine's home detachment' activities and/or some delays involving getting the funds together to send to you.

Then there is a supposed communications glitch with the wire transfer, which causes another delay in the money getting sent, accompanied by a request that you just give the needy Marine some large sum of money ($500.00 or more), and/or pay a motel bill or vehicle repair bill, which the fake commandant/retired officer assures you will be fully reimbursed by money being sent to you by UPS Overnight or Western Union, in only a few hours, and get the needy Marine on his way home ..... and then after he is allowed to leave with the money in hand, the communications completely break down, and the phone from which the original call was made –– (417) 499 - 0567 –– goes unanswered.

If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a detachment commandant/retired officer in Missouri, or any other state for that matter, and asking you to quickly financially assist a Marine and/or Marine Corps League Member stranded without money, immediately contact me by cell phone, day or night.

I can attempt to verify the supposedly needy Marine's membership in the MCL, and we can then decide whether the request is legitimate, and properly made. Also, if it is a scam, we can contact law enforcement to see if we can prosecute this crook.

I know, ... we all want to help a brother Marine, but do not give anyone cash money on some unknown person's assurance of repayment, unless you are ready to lose it.  We've all gotten too soft-hearted toward anyone claiming to be a Marine veteran, in our advanced years.

ALSO, AS A RETIRED STATE TROOPER, I SUGGEST THAT YOU DO NOT GO OUT TO MEET ANY STRANGER REPORTEDLY NEEDING HELP, ... MARINE OR OTHER PERSONS, ... ON THE INTERSTATE, OR AT A MOTEL, .... DAY OR NIGHT, ... WITHOUT ANOTHER PERSON WITH YOU, PREFERABLY ESCORTING IN A SEPARATE VEHICLE.  (If you or your escort have a legal right to carry, ... just be safe, and legal.)  There are some bad people roaming the interstates.

Semper Fidelis,

Archie H. Sweet, Jr.
Commandant
Department of South Carolina
Marine Corps League

(803) 287-4488