South-Carolina
South Carolina's top officer not releasing details on 2012 hack that stole millions of tax returns
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Twelve years after a hacker stole personal data from more than 3.6 million people in South Carolina by obtaining Social Security numbers and credit card information from tax returns, the state’s top police officer said Wednesday he thought he knew who did it but wasn’t ready to name anyone.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel was careful not to release many details during his confirmation hearing for another six-year term. He said what authorities didn’t find shows that the state had the right response after the U.S. Secret Service identified the hack and data breach in October 2012.
RADIO STATIONS IN SEVERAL STATES SAY SIGNALS WERE HACKED WITH ANTI-TRUMP RAP
“I think the fact that we didn’t come up with a whole lot of people’s information that got breached is a testament to the work that people have done on this case,” Keel said.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel waits to answer questions at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)
A contractor with the state Department of Revenue clicked on a malicious link in an email in the summer of 2012, allowing a hacker to access 6.4 million state income tax returns. They collected the Social Security numbers of 3.6 million people and almost 400,000 credit and debit card numbers.
The state paid $12 million for identity theft protection and credit monitoring for its residents after the breach, At the time, it was one of the largest breaches in U.S. history but has since been surpassed greatly by hacks to Equifax, Yahoo, Home Depot, Target and PlayStation.
Democratic Sen. Brad Hutto has been searching for answers for over a decade and has been repeatedly told it was an active investigation and couldn’t be talked about. Hutto decided to ask Keel about the breach Wednesday to try to get answers in public.
“Now you can tell us that y’all paid somebody in Azerbaijan $28,000 or whatever it was,” Hutto said.
Keel refused again to say if South Carolina paid a ransom to the hacker to get the information back.
“I’m probably still not going to be totally transparent with you, OK?” Keel said. “I’m not going to lie to you either.”
Keel justified the insurance for taxpayers and the federal and state investigative work by saying the quick action prevented the hacked information from being used and the proof was what didn’t happen — an onslaught of bogus credit card charges or people using stolen ID information.
In retrospect, the state may not have had to spend $12 million on insurance. But that is with the benefit of hindsight, Keel said.
“We didn’t really have a choice,” Keel said. “It was something that we had to do because at the time this happen we had to start trying to protect people immediately. We didn’t have time for the investigation to play out the way it ultimately played out.”
Hutto responded: “Did it play out? Do you know who did it?”
“Yes, sir, I know who did it,” Keel said, refusing to give any other details.
Hutto asked if the person had been prosecuted, then laughed and said it might have been because the person was paid off.
Keel didn’t respond to the bait. “If we could ever get to this individual, they may be,” he said.
The Senate subcommittee approved Keel’s nomination for an additional six-year term. It now goes to the full Judiciary Committee.
Keel has worked at the State Law Enforcement Division for nearly his entire 44-year law enforcement career, other than a three-year stint as the Department of Public Safety’s director.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He rose through the ranks in jobs like helicopter pilot and hostage negotiator before becoming the agency’s chief of staff in 2001. He spent a year as interim director in 2007 before being passed over by then-Gov. Mark Sanford for the top job.
Gov. Nikki Haley chose Keel to lead the State Law Enforcement Division in 2011.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 16, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 16 drawing
Midday: 9-7-1, FB: 5
Evening: 2-8-0, FB: 4
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 16 drawing
Midday: 7-4-2-9, FB: 5
Evening: 2-8-6-1, FB: 4
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 16 drawing
Midday: 10
Evening: 07
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from July 16 drawing
06-21-24-38-40
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 15, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from July 15 drawing
02-07-18-29-38, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 15 drawing
Midday: 6-0-9, FB: 9
Evening: 8-8-1, FB: 4
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 15 drawing
Midday: 3-8-1-2, FB: 9
Evening: 2-7-9-6, FB: 4
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 15 drawing
Midday: 02
Evening: 06
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from July 15 drawing
01-04-17-34-41
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from July 15 drawing
14-15-23-33-42, Powerball: 16
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
(WPDE) — A social media post from U.S. Rep. William Timmons is drawing attention to a South Carolina election-law scenario that could shape whether some members of Congress decide to run for Sen. Lindsey Graham’s open U.S. Senate seat.
Under the timeline outlined, a sitting member of Congress could win reelection to the U.S. House and also win the open U.S. Senate seat on Election Day, Nov. 3. Because a person cannot serve in both offices, the lawmaker would have to choose.
If the member chose the Senate seat, the change would take effect when the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3. At that point, the person would leave their House seat to serve in the Senate.
Unlike a U.S. Senate vacancy, a U.S. House seat cannot be filled by appointment. Instead, a special election would be required to choose a new representative. Until that special election is held, the House seat would remain vacant.
Timmons said the temporary vacancy could matter because the House elects its speaker when the new Congress begins on Jan. 3. With Republicans expected to hold a narrow majority, Timmons argues that even one temporary vacancy could make it more difficult for Speaker Mike Johnson to secure enough votes to keep the speaker’s gavel.
The next step in the process comes Tuesday, when candidate filing for the special Republican primary opens. Filing closes July 28.
Observers will be watching whether the issue affects who files for the race and whether any lawmakers propose changes to the election process.
-
Ohio4 minutes agoCanadian wildfire smoke forces cancellation of several events in northwest Ohio
-
Oklahoma11 minutes agoOklahoma first responders join rescue efforts as deadly Texas floods claim more lives
-
Oregon16 minutes ago
Oregon Lottery Pick 4 results for July 16
-
Pennsylvania23 minutes agoContinued Legacy: Central Pennsylvania Auto Auction gears up for 25th anniversary of Classic Car Auction
-
Rhode Island29 minutes agoWould You Dare Step Inside the Scariest Porta Potty in Rhode Island?
-
South-Carolina34 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for July 16, 2026
-
South Dakota41 minutes agoSouth Dakota opera ‘Giants in the Earth’ finds new audience
-
Tennessee46 minutes agoState encouraging Paramount to come to Tennessee
