Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General Conway Announces Additional Dates for Senior Crime Colleges in Western Ky

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway wants to make sure Kentucky’s senior citizens are armed with the latest information about scams that target the elderly. The Office of the Attorney General has already hosted nearly 20 senior crime colleges this year and recently added additional dates in Western Kentucky.

Senior Crime Colleges teach seniors how to avoid becoming victims of scams and who to alert if they feel they are being targeted.  Topics covered include identity theft and common scams reported to the Attorney General’s office, such as bogus sweepstakes and lotteries, false employment opportunities, phony government stimulus checks, and debt-relief scams.  The majority of these scams request personal and financial information in exchange for the promise of money.

“Sadly, the elderly are often targets of these types of fraudulent investment schemes,” said General Conway.   “My office is committed to fighting the financial exploitation of the elderly, which can have as devastating an impact as physical abuse.”

The Tri-State Better Business Bureau is also proud to participate in the programs, and will discuss scams that are reported to the bureau, as well as the various services they offer.

The Senior Crime Colleges last about an hour-and-a-half. The additional dates in Western Kentucky are as follows:

Wednesday, August 19/Henderson/10 am/The Gathering Place, 1817 North Elm St
Wednesday, August 19/Morganfield/12 pm/Morganfield Senior Center, 225 Richards Ln
Thursday, August 20/Calhoun/10 am/McLean Co. Senior Center, 875 Walnut St
Wednesday, August 26/Dixon/10:30 am/Dixon Senior Center, 44 North College St
Wednesday, September 23/Hawesville/10 am/Hancock County Senior Center, 315 Ridgewood Dr
Tuesday, October 27/Owensboro/10 am/Elizabeth Munday Center, 1650 West Second St

Forty-nine Senior Crime Colleges were held in 2008, reaching more than 1,800 seniors across Kentucky. The Senior Crime College program is also available to individual groups.  Groups may request a presentation by calling the Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection at 502-696-5389 or 1-888-432-9257.

Some helpful tips for seniors:

• Beware of home solicitors.  Keep the door closed to people you don’t recognize, talking through the storm door if necessary.  Door-to-door repair people are included in this warning. 
• Research the product, service, company, or charitable organization before you buy a product or contribute money. 
• Don’t do business with unsolicited callers, especially those offering to “fix your credit,”  “consolidate your loans,” or those claiming to be from Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.  These callers may mention that they are having difficulty depositing your stimulus payment, or need to verify your information in order for you to receive the payment.  They are looking to steal your identity or take money from your bank account.
• Never cash a check that you have received with a sweepstakes or lottery letter. If the letter instructs you to cash the check and wire money to pay for “fees” or “insurance,” don’t do it. The check is counterfeit and the bank will hold you liable for the funds.

For a complete listing of the Senior Crime College dates, visit http://tinyurl.com/pgxznu