<p>Clowns are arguably the scariest kind of children&#39;s entertainer, which makes this &quot;stranger danger&quot; story out of South Carolina especially eerie.</p><p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/31/us/creepy-clown-sightings-in-south-carolina-cause-a-frenzy.html" target="_blank">Multiple people</a>&nbsp;have reported clowns lurking around a Greenville apartment complex.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/32852558/residents-anxious-after-clown-sightings-letters-received-at-greenville-co-apartments?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Some kids</a>&nbsp;say people dressed like clowns have tried to coax them into the nearby woods.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/man-arrested-for-kidnapping-and-murder-of-5-year-old-girl/">Family Friend Arrested For Kidnapping And Murder Of 5-Year-Old Girl</a></b></p><p>&quot;There were clowns running in the woods telling the kids that they had candy, and they would give it to them if they came there,&quot; a child&nbsp;<a href="http://wspa.com/2016/08/29/children-claim-clowns-tried-to-lure-them-to-woods-near-greenville-apartments/" target="_blank">told WSPA</a>.</p><p>Some say the clowns have also shown kids&nbsp;<a href="http://wlos.com/news/local/police-investigating-after-reports-of-clowns-attempting-to-lure-children-into-the-woods" target="_blank">large amounts of money</a>&nbsp;to get them to go deeper into the woods.</p><p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/31/us/creepy-clown-sightings-in-south-carolina-cause-a-frenzy.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>&nbsp;reports local law enforcement has investigated claims that some residents &quot;may have fired shots in the direction of the wooded area.&quot;</p><p>A spokesman for the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/08/are-the-clown-sightings-in-south-carolina-real/498059/" target="_blank">Greenville County Sheriff&#39;s Office</a>&nbsp;told The Atlantic clown reports in the area appear to have spread to a different apartment complex about 20 minutes away.&nbsp;</p><p>He told the outlet the national attention the story has gained could inspire people to dress up as clowns to &quot;<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/08/are-the-clown-sightings-in-south-carolina-real/498059/" target="_blank">prank the police</a>&quot; and make it harder for them to investigate the claims.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/in-many-states-police-search-drug-records-without-warrants/">In Many States, Your Prescription Drug History Isn&#039;t All That Private</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/activists-call-out-university-researchers-for-killing-dogs/">Animal Activists Condemn University For Killing Dogs Used In Research</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/bill-inspired-by-brock-turner-case-is-about-to-become-law/">Bill Inspired By Brock Turner Case Is One Step Closer To Becoming Law</a></li></ul>