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Attorney General Andy Beshear joined AARP of Kentucky and members of the faith-based community to launch a partnership to protect local congregations and the communities they serve from con artists and the latest scams.
The Interfaith Travel Series Scam Alerts, hosted by Beshear’s Office of Senior Protection, will hold events at more than 20 different locations around the state with members of the faith-based community.
Beshear launched Scam Alerts last year as the state’s first direct messaging service that notifies Kentuckians of financial schemes by con artists to steal money or a person’s identification.
“One of my top priorities is to protect Kentucky families, especially our seniors, from the emotional and financially devastating effects that scams and financial exploitation can cause,” Beshear said. “I am proud to be partnering with AARP of Kentucky and congregations across Kentucky who want to protect their members and their communities.”
Beshear said the scam awareness events give his office the opportunity to partner with area faith-based communities and churches, and work with senior Kentuckians one-on-one through local senior ministries.
Joining Beshear at today’s announcement were: the Rev. Steve Weaver, senior pastor at Farmdale Baptist Church in Frankfort; the Rev. Ron Loughry, executive director, Fern Creek/Highview United Ministries in Louisville; the Rev. Dr. Valerie Washington, senior pastor, Hughlett Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Louisville; and Charlotte Whittaker, of Hartford, who serves as the AARP Kentucky State President.
“I am honored to be included in the efforts of the Office of Senior Protection to help the seniors of Kentucky,” Washington said. “The Hughlett Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church family is comprised of approximately 55 percent senior citizens. On a personal note, it was the Senior Protection Department in Texas that rescued my father from scam artists. For months they were taking his checks, leaving him with nothing. Lastly, due to the technology today, many of our senior citizens are targeted due to their lack of technical skills. Therefore, it behooves us to take an active part in their private and personal lives, preventing them from becoming victims. It also helps them to become more cognizant of the scams and con artists who prey on our communities.”
“One of the chief responsibilities of government is to protect its citizens,” Weaver said. “I’m thankful that the Office of the Attorney General is providing this service to the seniors of the Commonwealth which offers information to protect them from those who would prey upon them.”
“I am encouraged and excited that our Attorney General Andy Beshear, through his Office of Senior Protection, is taking this initiative to reach out across the Commonwealth, engaging in dialogue with faith communities around the concerns of older adults,” Loughry said. “My organization, Fern Creek/Highview United Ministries, along with all the community ministries that are part of the Association of Community Ministries in the Louisville Metro area, have long been concerned for and provided services for the older adult population.”
“One of AARP’s missions is to help people outsmart con artists before they strike,” Whittaker said. “Our goal is to help Kentuckians safeguard against identity theft and scams so they can keep their hard-earned money. We look forward to working with Attorney General Beshear and faith groups across the Commonwealth as we fight to end fraud and scams, and keep Kentuckians money where it belongs – in their pockets.”
Beshear is working to bring new solutions and ideas to address scams because of the severe harm they are having on Kentucky families. Just last year more than 3 million consumers were conned out of $765 million across the country. Seniors nationwide lose nearly $37 billion a year to elder financial exploitation.
To date, more than 100 nonprofit and retail organizations have joined Beshear’s initiative as a Scam Alerts partner, including Kroger, AARP of Kentucky, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the Better Business Bureau and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Kentuckians have recently received Scam Alerts on the Sweetheart Scam, IRS Scam, Seasonal Employment Scam and a scam targeting veterans.
Beshear hosted the first Interfaith Scam Alerts event at Shelby Christian Church in Shelbyville earlier this month.
“Protecting our seniors against fraud, scams and financial exploitation is a priority,” said Laura Witt, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties. “General Beshear’s Interfaith Initiative brought that message to our local citizens. Thank you General Beshear and the Office of Senior Protection for educating our seniors and caregivers about Scam Alerts. Scam Alerts is a great way to protect yourself from predators. Thanks to the Attorney General’s Office of Senior Protection for bringing it to our community.”
Currently there are 25 congregations participating in the 2017 Interfaith Travel Series Scam Alert. The Kentucky Baptist Convention is partnering with the Office of the Attorney General on this initiative. The congregations are:
- Allen Baptist Church: Prestonsburg
- Beargrass Christian Church: Louisville
- Beaver Dam Baptist Church: Beaver Dam
- Blooming Grove Baptist Church and St. John United Methodist Church: Hopkinsville
- East Somerset Baptist Church: Somerset
- Eastwood Baptist Church: Bowling Green
- Farmdale Baptist Church: Frankfort
- First Baptist Church Bracktown: Lexington
- First Christian Church: Frankfort
- Flemingsburg Baptist Church: Flemingsburg
- Hughlett Temple A.M.E. Zion Church: Louisville
- Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish: La Grange
- Kentucky Refugee Ministries Inc.: Louisville
- Lone Oak First Baptist Church: Paducah
- New Covenant Baptist Church: Louisville
- New Hope Christian Center: Hazard
- Memorial United Methodist Church: Elizabethtown
- Sand Spring Baptist Church: Lawrenceburg
- Shelby Christian Church: Shelbyville
- Shiloh Baptist Church: Lexington
- St. Bernard Parish: Louisville
- St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center: Erlanger
- St. Stephen Church: Louisville
- The Temple AIBS: Louisville
The next event in the series will be at 10 a.m. March 16 at the Allen Baptist Church in Prestonsburg. For dates, times and locations of each upcoming event, please click here. Congregations interested in participating in the series may contact Beshear’s Office of Senior Protection at 502-696-5300.
Kentuckians may sign up for Scam Alerts by texting the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311), or enroll online at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Attorney General Andy Beshear is warning Kentuckians of the “sweetheart” scam, which reports suggest caused Kentuckians to lose more than $80,000 last year.
A sweetheart scammer typically uses a fake photo and identity to approach a victim through social media or online dating sites and acts as if they are interested in getting to know him or her.
Over time, the scammer works to develop a long-distance, sham relationship with the victim. Once the scammer gains the victim’s trust, they pretend to need emergency funds and asks the victim to wire money, send prepaid gift cards or other hard-to-trace payment methods.
Beshear said the beginning of the year and Valentine’s Day brings about scammers who are looking to exploit those seeking new friendships and relationships.
“We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers – and this is especially true when it comes to helping our friends and family avoid falling victim to a scam,” said Beshear. “I encourage everyone to call or visit with those they care for this month, especially younger or older relatives who may live alone or be lonely, and discuss scams and help them to know the common warning signs.”
Beshear said identifying these red flags could help stop a sweetheart scam, watch for someone who:
- Claims very quickly that they are in love.
- Refuses to meet in person.
- Asks to leave the protections of a legitimate dating or social media site and communicate via email, text or instant messenger.
- Demands the relationship be a secret.
- Provides information that cannot be verified through an independent online search or through trustworthy sources.
- Demands money or gift cards sent overseas.
- Solicits sensitive personal or financial information.
Kentuckians who suspect a scam should contact the Office of the Attorney General at 502-696-5300 and fill out an online complaint form.
One of the critical missions of the Office of the Attorney General is to help Kentucky families and seniors recognize and avoid scams.
Beshear recently issued a scam alert warning Kentuckians of IRS and tax-related identity theft scams.
Kentuckians are urged to stay up to date on new and trending scams by signing up for Scam Alerts. To enroll text the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311), or enroll online at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert.
As tax season begins, Attorney General Andy Beshear issued a scam alert to help Kentucky families avoid falling victim to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax-related identity fraud.
The start date for electronic filing of tax year 2016 federal and Kentucky returns began Jan. 23, 2017, and, as a result, reports of tax identity fraud are increasing.
Beshear’s office has received nearly 100 IRS scam reports over the past seven months, and the most recently reported scams were in Boyd, Greenup and Hardin counties.
“The IRS will never call, text or email asking for your personal or financial information,” Beshear said. “If you are contacted by someone claiming to be an IRS agent and requests your Social Security number hang-up and report it to the actual IRS.”
Tax identity fraud occurs when someone uses your Social Security number to file a tax return in your name, before you file in order to steal your refund.
Beshear and his Office of Senior Protection and Mediation recommends these tips from fraud.org to help Kentucky families avoid falling victim to tax-related identity theft.
- File early. Beginning Jan. 23, 2017, the IRS and the state will begin accepting electronic filing of tax returns. By filing early in the tax season, you can reduce your risk of identity theft by submitting your return before scammers. Waiting only gives con artists more time to steal your refund.
- Consider e-file. To help file quickly, consumers may qualify for the state and IRS’s Free File programs, which allows the use of free, name-brand tax filing software. For more information on the IRS Free File program, click here and for information on the state program, click here.
- Monitor your refund. Review the status of your refund by visiting the IRS’s Where’s My Refund? website or take advantage of the IRS2Go smartphone app. Remember, by law, the IRS must hold refunds claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit and/or the Additional Child Tax Credit until Feb. 15. The first day the Kentucky Department of Revenue will issue refunds is also Feb. 15; click here to visit the state refund site.
Victims of tax fraud may receive a mailed letter from the IRS or the victim may discover the fraud when they attempt to file their return.
Victims need to act quickly and follow these recommended steps:
- Contact the IRS. To contact the IRS directly call, 800.908.4490. Contact the Kentucky Department of Revenue at 502.564.4581.
- Follow the Attorney General’s Identity Theft Kit. Learn how to obtain an incident report of identity theft from your local law enforcement agency, place an immediate and free fraud alert on your credit file, order and review your credit reports, and create a comprehensive recovery action plan.
For additional information, visit the Office of the Attorney General’s website at ag.ky.gov; the IRS site, www.irs.gov/identitytheft; and Kentucky Department of Revenue at http://revenue.ky.gov/.
One of the critical missions of the Office of the Attorney General is to help Kentucky families and seniors recognize and avoid scams.
With the summer travel season upon us, state and local authorities are working with retailers to prevent thieves from stealing consumers’ data at fuel pumps, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles announced recently.
“This form of identity theft, known as card skimming, is exploding around the world,” Commissioner Quarles said. “Losses due to skimming are expected to exceed $3 billion globally this year. Kentucky Department of Agriculture inspectors are on the lookout for evidence of skimming to protect Kentucky consumers and businesses.”
The KDA is charged with the task of inspecting motor fuel pumps in every retail establishment in the Commonwealth once a year. KDA inspectors test pumps to ensure that the amount of fuel dispensed matches the amount shown on the pump, and check to make sure pumps are in proper working order.
As part of the inspection, they look for signs that a pump has been compromised by thieves who install electronic devices called “skimmers” that capture data from consumers’ credit cards. The data is used to produce fake credit cards and make fraudulent charges on the victim’s account. Inspectors shut down any pump that may have been tampered with and report the incident to law enforcement authorities.
Jason Glass, assistant director of the KDA’s Division of Regulation and Inspection, said card readers on fuel pumps are especially susceptible to tampering because pumps often are located out of sight of an attendant.
Glass said retailers are taking action to prevent credit card skimming by installing proprietary locks on pumps, using security tape to seal the pumps, and logging the numbers on the tape to make sure the seal hasn’t been broken and replaced. Some pumps shut down when they are entered unlawfully, Glass said. Credit card companies are deploying technology to make credit cards harder to skim, he said.
Glass said consumers can help themselves by looking for signs that a pump has been tampered with, such as locks that appear to have been compromised, doors that may have been pried open, and security tape that is broken or doesn’t adhere to the pump.
Consumers may report suspected tampering to the retailer, law enforcement, or the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. To submit a report to the KDA, call (502) 573-0282 or email ag.web@ky.gov. Please include the retailer’s name and location, the pump number, and the fuel grade.
