New partnership to protect Kentuckians from scams

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Attorney General Andy Beshear and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service have formed a partnership to help protect Kentuckians from scams and con artists.

Beshear recently attended the Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Sciences Conference in Owensboro to address extension agents from across the state.

Beshear said the partnership is helping to disseminate information in each community about scam prevention and helping to protect senior citizens.

“The extension service has agents in every corner of Kentucky and they are working hard to directly address the issues of importance to all Kentuckians,” Beshear said. “With their support more Kentucky families, children and senior citizens are armed with the information they need to avoid and report scams.”

“Through Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, individuals and families learn sound financial practices that lead to financial stability,” said Cherry Kay Smith, assistant director for Family and Consumer Sciences Field Programs. “FCS extension agents are a trusted resource working with all segments of the county population and are a natural network to further consumer protection strategies such as Scam Alerts.”

Beshear’s scam prevention partnerships began forming in early 2016 when he launched Scam Alerts, the state’s first direct messaging service that notifies Kentuckians of new and trending scams reported in Kentucky.

Scam Alerts allow the Office of the Attorney General to issue an alert directly to those signed up and provide tips on how to avoid falling victim. Kentuckians may sign up for the 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. To date, nearly 9,000 Kentuckians are enrolled and receiving the alerts.

Earlier this year, Beshear continued his commitment to protecting Kentuckians and seniors from scams by implementing new partnerships.

His office most recently announced a partnership with the Kentucky Bankers Association, where his office will work with member banks to host scam events across the state. Beshear’s office is also working with Kentucky’s faith-based community to help educate its senior ministries and the communities they serve on potential scams.

Beshear said last year his office received more than 3,300 total complaints and nearly 500 were directly related to scams. Through mediation services, Beshear’s office recovered more than $675,000 in restitution for Kentuckians.

The financial and emotional devastation con artists cause Kentucky families each year is what prompted Beshear to make protecting Kentuckians from scams one of the top priorities of his office.

“Scam calls and solicitations have reached what seems like an all-time high,” Beshear said. “My team and I are grateful for the more than 100 partner organizations, like the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, that have joined us in our fight to protect Kentucky families from scammers.”

Other nonprofit and retail organizations that have joined Beshear’s scam prevention efforts include: Kroger, AARP of Kentucky, Kentucky Council of Churches, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Better Business Bureau, and United States Postal Inspection Service.

To report a scam, contact the Attorney General’s Office of Senior Protection at 502-696-5300, or file a complaint online at ag.ky.gov/scams.