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S.C. Code Ann. § 16-13-400

Avoiding or attempting to avoid payment of telecommunications services

Applied in 1 court decision — leading case State v. Lee (1988)

Most recently applied in State v. Lee (February 1988)

1962 Code SECTION 16-565.1; 1961 (52) 569; 1965 (54) 680.

Any person who knowingly avoids or attempts to avoid, or causes another to avoid, the lawful charges or payments, in whole or in part, for any telecommunications service or for the transmission of a message, signal, or other telecommunication over telephone or telegraph facilities:

(1) By charging such service to an existing telephone number or credit card number without the authority of the subscriber thereto or the lawful holder thereof;

(2) By charging such service to a nonexistent telephone number or credit card number, or to a number associated with telephone service which is suspended or terminated, or to a revoked or canceled credit card number;

(3) By use of a code, prearranged scheme, or other similar stratagem or device whereby such person, in effect, sends or receives information;

(4) By rearranging, tampering with, or making connection with any facilities or equipment of a telephone company, whether physically, inductively, acoustically, or otherwise; or

(5) By the use of any other fraudulent means, method, trick or device; is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Official source: South Carolina Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain South Carolina statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.