Attorney General Andy Beshear and his Office of Senior Protection and Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse working to protect local congregations and the communities they serve from con artists and the latest scams.

Public events are part of Beshear’s 2017 Interfaith Travel Series Scam Alerts that has hosted dozens of events with senior ministries across the state.

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. He announced the travel series in February to collaborate with the faith-based community and their senior ministries.

“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. “As we build our alliance with congregations like St. Agnes across the state, we will continue to raise awareness and give Kentuckians the tools they need to avoid scams and to help protect their neighbors and loved ones.”

Overall outreach efforts by the Office of Senior Protection since 2016 have reached nearly 8,000 senior Kentuckians, agencies, families and visited more than 100 locations in 41 counties.

To date, nearly 170 partners have assisted with this scam awareness effort, including Kroger, AARP of Kentucky, the Kentucky Council of Churches, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Kentucky Bankers Association, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the Better Business Bureau, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Kentucky-Southern Indiana Chapter and the Bluegrass Council of the Blind.

Upcoming locations in Beshear’s Interfaith Travel Series include:

  • Oct. 3: Hughlett Temple AME Zion in Louisville
  • Oct. 17: Beargrass Christian Church in Louisville
  • Oct. 19: St. Stephen Cathedral Community Center in Owensboro
  • Oct. 24: Trinity Church of God in Winchester
  • Oct. 26: First Christian Church in Frankfort
  • Oct. 26: First Baptist Church in Bowling Green

 

Beshear is working to bring new solutions and ideas to address scams because of the severe harm they are having on Kentucky families. More than 3 million consumers were conned out of $765 million across the country in 2015. Seniors nationwide lose nearly $37 billion a year to elder financial exploitation.

Kentuckians have recently received Scam Alerts on Hurricane Harvey scams, IRS scams Targeting Western Kentuckians and a scam targeting Kentuckians’ generosity to veterans.

Congregations interested in participating in the series may contact Beshear’s Office of Senior Protection at 502-696-5300.

The Office of Senior Protection met and exceeded its first year goal of enrolling 10,000 Kentuckians in Scam Alerts. By the end of June 2017, the total numbers of enrollees was more than 12,000.

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.