By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Governor Andy Beshear announced a new partnership last week between the Stop Scams Initiative and the Kentucky State Police to share resources with law enforcement agencies across the state and protect more Kentuckians against scammers.
“Scams are cruel and cost Kentuckians money that could be going toward rent, groceries, retirement and more,” said Gov. Beshear. “Our law enforcement officers are committed to protecting our people, including by tracking down scammers and helping bring them to justice. This partnership will give Team Kentucky more tools to prevent scams and protect Kentuckians’ hard-earned dollars.”
According to the most recent FBI report on internet scams, Kentuckians lose over $74 million dollars annually to cyber scammers. With the integration of technology in our everyday lives and the emergence of artificial intelligence, scams are on the rise and more sophisticated than ever. Education and awareness are the keys to protecting people from financial loss.
“The Stop Scams initiative grew from the work we were doing with the Department of Insurance and the Department of Financial Institutions fighting fraud, said Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Ray Perry. “We knew that we had to do more to educate people about scams too. This partnership will help increase awareness and teach more people how to protect their money.”
Stop Scams was launched in August 2025 to help Kentuckians spot, avoid and recover from scams. The website StopScams.ky.gov shares the latest information on scams. Since the program launched more than 30,000 subscribers have started receiving text and email scam alerts and a monthly newsletter with the latest news on scams in Kentucky. The program has reached thousands more through educational public speaking events across the state.
Stop Scams helps Kentuckians identify and avoid scams by encouraging the Pause/Check/Protect method:
• Pause: Were you expecting a call, text or email from this person? Does the offer seem too good to be true? Don’t feel pressured to act if you feel unsure.
• Check: Research the offer. Discuss with family and friends, especially if you are considering financial investment.
• Protect: Keep your personal information safe and boost your digital security. Never share your social security number, bank information, or passwords.
Learn more about how to spot a scam and sign up for scam alerts at StopScams.ky.gov.