Federal sources of fraud reporting show that fraud can happen to anyone. Sharing fraud prevention resources could help reduce the likelihood of victimization and increase reporting. A new three-unit Kentucky FCS Extension curriculum entitled “Protect Your Life from Scams and Frauds” has a goal of raising fraud awareness in order to reduce the likelihood that participants will fall victim. The curriculum includes three units: 1) Scam Red Flags and Avoiding Fraud; 2) Reducing the Risk of Identity Theft; and 3) A Bad Deal in Disguise: Types of Scams. Objectives include understanding con artist tactics, recognizing “red flag” promises, knowing ways to protect against identity theft, identifying types of scams, and naming reporting organizations. 

Each unit includes a facilitator’s guide that details the unit’s goals and objectives; setup and facility needs; how to present the material virtually if needed; tips for lengthening or shortening the presentation to fit time constraints; and a running script that matches up with the PowerPoint slides. Activities are designed to provide experiential learning while reinforcing the content objectives. Evaluation forms collect data relating to these same objectives. 

Fraud was the focus topic in the Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association’s recent Management & Safety Program of Work. The homemakers work in conjunction with Extension agents to present research-based educational programming. The agents host train-the-trainer workshops for homemaker leaders, then those leaders take the lessons back to present to their individual clubs. Collaborating with this non-profit group greatly extends the reach, as the state homemaker organization is currently more than 11,000 members strong.

This series was released one unit per year during the three-year Program of Work. According to the 2020-2021 Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association’s Management & Safety Program of Work Report, 1,291 homemakers feel prepared to protect their money from fraud. More than 1,000 took steps to reduce fraudulent offers, 1,144 implemented strategies to protect themselves, and 306 reported potential scams to authorities. According to the 2021-2022 reports, 1,855 people who feel prepared to protect their money from fraud. Another 1,571 took steps to reduce offers, 1,574 implemented strategies to protect themselves, and 597 reported potential scams. Data for the third lesson will be reported soon.

I submitted a proposal to present a session on this new curriculum at the 2023 NEAFCS conference, and my proposal was selected. I will share this resource on Sept. 14, 2023, in Rhode Island. Participants will learn: (1) how this new, three-part curriculum has been utilized in KY to raise scam and fraud awareness; (2) ways to teach about fraud tactics and scam types; and (3) knowledge of where to report potential fraud.