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Kentuckians looking to make extra money in time for the Christmas season need to watch out for seasonal employment scams, according to Attorney General Andy Beshear.
Beshear said his office issued a scam alert after receiving multiple reports from Kentuckians who said they responded to a seasonal mystery shopper job advertisement that turned out to be a scam. A resident in Scott County reported losing $2,000 to the scam this week.
While there are reputable companies that do hire mystery shoppers Beshear’s Office of Senior Protection recommends avoiding any ad, email or website that requires an advance payment to gain access to information on how to become a mystery shopper.
“Legitimate companies do not require you to make an advance payment to obtain employment as a mystery shopper,” Beshear said. “Kentuckians must always remain vigilant about scams, especially job scams during the Christmas season when con artists are looking to take advantage of hard working Kentuckians.”
Beshear recommends that Kentuckians research and verify all job listings and cautions job seekers to watch for these red flags often associated with a variety of employment scams:
- Asked to wire money.
If your first task requires you to use your personal bank account to cash a check, withdraw cash and complete a wire transfer you are most likely being scammed. - Sounds too good to be true.
Watch for job postings that promise a high salary to work from home and require little experience. Also, be suspicious if you receive a job offer without completing an in-person or telephone interview. - Immediately asked to provide personal or financial information.
Job seekers are often asked to provide Social Security numbers and other personal and financial information as part of the hiring process. Take extra time to verify a company and application before providing sensitive data.
One of Beshear’s top priorities is to protect Kentucky families, especially senior citizens, from scams, abuse and exploitation. To sign up to receive Scam Alerts text the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311), or enroll online at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert.
To report a scam contact the Office of Attorney General at 888-432-9257 and file a complaint online.
From the Kentucky Derby Museum:
We were honored to be a 2017 recipient of the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award in the Large Non-Profit Organization category.
BBB Torch Award Winners and Finalists Announced
Honoring Ethical Businesses and Non- Profit Organizations in our Community
Better Business Bureau serving Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Western Kentucky is proud to announce the winners and finalists of the 2017 BBB Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics. The winners and finalists were honored at the BBB Torch Awards luncheon on November 1st.
BBB President/CEO, Reanna Smith-Hamblin says, “Torch Awards go to businesses and non-profits that are committed to marketplace trust and conducting their business practices in an ethical manner. No award could mean more to a business or organization’s reputation than a BBB Torch Award!”
Here is the list of winners and finalists of the 2017 Torch Awards:
Very Small Business Category:
Safety NET (Winner)
Steurer & Jacoby Crafted by The Firebird Group (Finalist)
Small Business Category:
Our House Restoration (Winner)
Large Business Category:
Mortenson Dental Partners (Winner)
MCM CPAs & Advisors (Finalist)
Small Non-Profit Organization
Center for Nonprofit Excellence (Winner)
Louisville Metro Police Foundation (Finalist)
Large Non-Profit Organization
Kentucky Derby Museum (Winner)
Gilda’s Club Louisville (Finalist)
Congratulations to these businesses and non-profit organizations!
Louisville printmaker Elizabeth Foley’s work titled “Mandala.” Foley is one of eight Kentucky artists recently adjudicated into the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Crafted program.
Earlier this year, printmaker Elizabeth Foley retired from a 20-year art teaching career to focus more on her craft. Her new full-time career got a recent boost when she was named among the eight artists added to the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Crafted program.
Kentucky Crafted is an adjudicated arts marketing assistance program that provides opportunities to Kentucky visual and craft artists through arts business training, networking, sales, exhibit, and promotional opportunities. Adjudicated visual and craft artists are the only eligible Kentucky artists to exhibit at The Kentucky Crafted Market.
Foley, who owns FoleyPrints Studio, worked as a printmaker for about 20 years while she taught and said making the transition from teacher to full-time artist was an adjustment.
“Being associated with Kentucky Crafted will allow me to figure out how to create a business and reach a bigger audience,” said Foley. “I’m looking for this experience to raise my standards and give me a sense of community with other artists.”
Foley said she will also take advantage of the professional development and networking opportunities that come with the Kentucky Crafted brand.
“I’m hoping my work will get seen by communities that might not otherwise see it, and being with this program will push me to the next level to get out there,” Foley said.
The new Kentucky Crafted program artists are:
- John Dixon (Dixon Design), Danville, mixed media
- Elizabeth Foley (FoleyPrints Studio), Louisville, printmaking
- Patricia Grenier (HeartFelt Fleece & Fiber), Cynthiana, fiber
- Brad Holman (Rocky Woodland Forge), Beattyville, metal
- Chao Ma (Three Land Studio), Lexington, painting and graphics
- Gena Mark, Lexington, fiber
- Justine Riley, Mayfield, fiber
- Ted Tarquinio (TLT Photography), Louisville, photography
Applicants to the program must be visual or craft artists who have a well-developed body of work in any medium, full-time residents of Kentucky, and over the age of 18. For more information on the Kentucky Crafted program, contact Dave Blevins at david.blevins@ky.gov or 502-892-3120.
Credit: KY State Parks
The Kentucky State Parks are open for the Christmas holidays with decorations, candlelight tours, special meals, entertainment and other unique events.
The historic homes, Waveland, White Hall, and My Old Kentucky Home, all have special Christmas tours planned. Resort parks are planning special meals and events for the children. See a list of events at: http://parks.ky.gov/holiday-events/
State parks are a great place for Christmas and holiday gatherings. The resort parks have restaurants, meeting areas and gift shops that offer unique gift ideas. That includes Kentucky Unbridled Spirit gift cards, which are valid at Kentucky State Parks, the Kentucky Horse Park, the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.
All resort parks will be open for lodging seven days a week this winter and make for a wonderful weekend getaway or a holiday party.
Many state resort parks will also hold New Year’s Eve parties and dinners Dec. 31. To get more information, buy a gift card or to make a reservation, visit www.parks.ky.gov.
Credit: Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives – Kentucky Public Libraries
The Kentucky Talking Book Library (KTBL) received the James Carl Dotson award for providing long-standing service to blind and visually impaired Kentuckians during the Kentucky Council of the Blind’s recent 2017 convention in Louisville.
KTBL provides free library service to people who are unable to read traditional print due to a visual or physical disability. Braille and/or digital audio books are delivered by mail, downloaded from the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) website, or accessed via the BARD Mobile app for smartphone or tablet. A special digital talking book player is provided on loan as part of the service.
The award was presented Nov. 18 to KTBL Branch Manager Barbara Penegor on behalf of KTBL for providing access to literacy, information, recreation and community to blind and visually impaired patrons.
“I think I speak for my entire staff when I say we all enjoy our jobs because what we do means so much to our patrons. Not a day goes by when we don’t hear someone tell us they don’t know what they would do without their talking books or Braille books. We hear many touching stories from family members after patron passes on how much this service meant to them. It is like icing on the cake to be publically thanked for our work and to know that the community at-large recognizes and appreciates us,” said Penegor.
Dotson was a 1943 graduate of the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) who worked tirelessly for the Kentucky Council of the Blind. He also served as scoutmaster at KSB, actively supported the KSB alumni, and served the Louisville community as a Shriner and master of his Masonic Lodge.
KTBL is a branch within the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) in Frankfort that began operating in 1968. It is part of a nationwide network of similar libraries administered by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, a branch of the Library of Congress that began in 1931.
The Kentucky Council of the Blind is a nonprofit organization composed of members who are blind, visually impaired, or are sighted volunteers dedicated to helping others with low vision lead fuller, more independent lives. It is the state affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, whose mission is to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all blind and visually impaired people.
For more information or to apply for service, contact the KTBL at 1-800-372-2968 or 1-502-564-5791 or email KTBL.Mail@ky.gov.
Image: Operation UNITE
The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and Operation UNITE are launching a new substance abuse call center that will connect people across the state with drug treatment, Gov. Matt Bevin announced recently.
Starting December 1, Kentuckians struggling with a substance use disorder, either themselves or within their families, can call 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357) toll-free to speak with a specialist about treatment options and available resources. The specialist will conduct a brief screening assessment in order to connect callers with the most relevant treatment services as quickly as possible.
“This epidemic is gripping people in every corner of our state and every part of our society,” said Gov. Bevin. “If people don’t know about the ability to get help, then help is not going to be given to people. This phone number will connect callers to a live person who understands this exact issue and will link them to community resources that can help.”
Operation UNITE already fields about 1,000 inquiries each month from desperate residents seeking help with a substance use disorder. The new KY Help Call Center will provide referrals across the state to both public and private treatment providers.
Options will include everything from medication-assisted treatment to faith-based care, and the live specialist will help callers work through all the variables, such as location and cost.
“There are so many people across the commonwealth who have nowhere to turn when confronted with their own addiction or that of a loved one,” said Nancy Hale, President/CEO of Operation UNITE. “They are desperate for answers. They are desperate for help. This call center will guide people toward recovery. It will give them hope.”
The partnership with Operation UNITE is the latest initiative in the state’s “Don’t Let Them Die” campaign. Gov. Bevin unveiled that campaign earlier this year, encouraging all Kentuckians to take proactive steps to combat the lethal opioid crisis, which claimed more than 1,400 lives in 2016.
Kentucky Justice Secretary John Tilley said those in the grip of addiction often have brief moments of clarity when they are most receptive to help.
“We must seize on those rare opportunities to save lives,” Secretary Tilley said. “This call center brings us closer to on-demand treatment than ever before, and it allows callers to locate the resources that work best for them. The bottom line is that recovery happens, and I’m grateful that our state is leading the charge against this national pandemic.”
UNITE is staffing the KY Help Call Center with specialists in Prestonsburg, Ky., and the Kentucky Justice Cabinet is funding it through anti-drug appropriations in the current budget — approximately $500,000 per year for the next two years.
Callers can speak to a specialist from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday. During non-business hours, callers may leave a message and the call center staff will get back in touch with them.
More information is available at DontLetThemDie.com and OperationUNITE.org.
For the second year, the Kentucky Department of Revenue (DOR) is collaborating with the Internal Revenue Service, other state tax agencies, and the tax industry in bringing awareness to National Tax Security Awareness Week to encourage both individual and business taxpayers to take additional steps to protect their tax data and identities in advance of the 2018 filing season.
Starting Monday, Nov. 27, National Tax Security Awareness Week will focus daily on one issue that poses a threat to individuals and businesses and offer steps they may take to better protect themselves from cybercriminals.
Federal and state agencies, partners in the Security Summit, have enacted a series of defenses in recent years that have made significant inroads into tax-related identity theft. While Summit partners continue to improve defenses, they also recognize that they need help from taxpayers, tax preparers and businesses to continue progress against identity theft.
“We feel this awareness campaign is extremely important and hope all Kentucky taxpayers will follow the suggested security measures to ensure their important documents remain protected from potential fraudsters,” said Daniel Bork, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Revenue.
Summit partners and other consumer, business and community groups will be hosting a series of events across the country to raise awareness during National Tax Security Awareness Week. This is especially timely as the holiday season brings out not only online shoppers but online thieves seeking to trick people into disclosing sensitive information that could be used to help file fraudulent tax returns.
The week also comes amid continuing disclosures that more than 145 million Americans have had their names, addresses and Social Security numbers stolen from a variety of places. No one yet knows how cybercriminals will use this data or try to monetize it.
The IRS and states have put many new defenses in place to help protect taxpayers from identity theft. The new IRS protections have worked well with some key indicators of identity theft on tax returns having dropped by nearly two-thirds since 2015.
These protections are especially helpful if criminals only have names, addresses and SSNs – which was the information stolen in recent incidents. However, there are continuing concerns that cybercriminals will try to build on this basic information by trying to obtain more specific financial details from taxpayers and tax professionals to help them file fraudulent tax returns.
During the upcoming 2018 filing season, the IRS urges tax professionals, businesses and others to join with the Security Summit partners in sharing the security information through organizations, customers and partners.
During National Tax Security Awareness Week, people will learn about the basic steps necessary to protect themselves and their tax data online, such as using security software, strong passwords and data encryption. They will learn what steps they should take if they are a data breach victim, such as placing a freeze on their credit accounts and the signs of tax-related identity theft.
They will learn how cybercriminals use phishing emails to bait them into disclosing information. Employers will be warned about the dangerous W-2 Scam that has made identity theft victims of thousands of employees. Finally, Summit partners will remind small businesses that they too are subject to identity theft and should take steps to protect themselves.
There are three key steps Summit partners urge people to take to protect their tax and financial information:
Learn to recognize and avoid phishing emails, threatening phone calls and texts from thieves posing as legitimate organizations such as your bank, credit card company and government organizations, including the IRS. Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails.
Always use security software with firewall and anti-virus protections. Make sure the security software is always turned on and can automatically update. Encrypt sensitive files such as tax records you store on your computer. Use strong passwords.
Protect your personal data. Use strong unique passwords for each online account. Don’t routinely carry your Social Security card, and make sure your tax records are secure. Treat your personal information like you do your cash; don’t leave it lying around.
The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry came together in 2015 to join forces in their fight against tax-related identity theft. Learn more about their efforts and their progress at Security Summit on IRS.gov.
Increasing public awareness about people’s role in protecting their own data is a critical part of the Security Summit efforts. Partners launched the “Taxes. Security. Together” awareness campaign in the fall of 2015.
The partners followed up with “Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself” campaign aimed at tax professionals. Partners also held a 10-week “Don’t Take the Bait” awareness effort, warning tax professionals of the most common data breach scams targeting their offices and taxpayer data.