The problem:  Clients are being scammed daily by telephone, facebook, and other media scams.

The educational program response:  How to identify scammers.

The participants/target audience;  Older adults

Other partners (if applicable)

Program impact or participant response.  Scammers may try to trick us by appearing in disguise. This makes it difficult to know when something is “too good to be true.” The Federal Trade Commission received 2.9 million fraud reports in 2021. Of those reports, about a quarter of them resulted in a loss, equaling a total of $6.1 billion. The best way to avoid joining those statistics is to learn more about different types of scams to avoid falling victim.

To increase consumer knowledge on scam and fraud prevention, the Pulaski County Extension Office offered educational classes on Types of Scams to more than 250 clients. during the month of September.  All clients could name at least three types of imposter scams from the Educational Publication.  Many of the clients shared stories and reports of potential frauds they had been involved in  Some had already lost money that could not be refunded..  After the lessons, the clients received information on  what organizations to report scam and fraud too.

 One person reported that someone had taken out a $10,000 loan using her identity.  She was still trying to clear up her name and the loan taken out in her name.  Several reported they would like to hear from the Kentucky State Attorney General on what they could do if they were scammed.