Bankruptcy filings have fallen 63 percent in South Carolina this year, a drop lawyers and credit counselors attribute to changes in federal law. In an attempt to discourage abuses, the government made it more difficult this year for individuals to seek relief from creditors through the courts. But Jenny Dalrymple, a Columbia bankruptcy lawyer, said some debtors may be falling victim to credit-repair scams or skipping bills for medical treatment or other debts not secured by a home, car or other property. Only 2,788 individuals and businesses filed bankruptcy petitions in U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in South Carolina in the first six months of the year, down from 7,571 in the first half of last year. The Chapter 7 filings were down from 3,519 during the first half of last year compared with 722 during the same period this year.