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Day two of David Pecker testimony wraps in NY Trump trial; Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban; ND sees a flurry of campaigning among Native candidates; and NH lags behind other states in restricting firearms at polling sites.

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The Senate moves forward with a foreign aid package. A North Carolina judge overturns an aged law penalizing released felons. And child protection groups call a Texas immigration policy traumatic for kids.

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Wyoming needs more educators who can teach kids trade skills, a proposal to open 40-thousand acres of an Ohio forest to fracking has environmental advocates alarmed and rural communities lure bicyclists with state-of-the-art bike trail systems.

Tax Season Ends, 'Operation Stop Scams' Begins

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Monday, April 15, 2019   

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Scammers change their tactics from year to year, and it's worth being especially vigilant this month. Fraudsters know it's the end of tax season and some people may have received extra cash from a tax refund.

AARP said it's also a good time to think about shredding old documents - whether they belong to you or an older parent who could become a scam victim. Leah Ganschow, associate state director of communications and outreach at AARP South Dakota, said annual shredding services are offered in five cities, to safely dispose of bank statements, medical data, personal information or anything you don't want others to get their hands on.

"We just want to help people take this opportunity to protect themselves, and to take that next step to make sure that their identity is safe, and their personal and financial information is safe,” Ganschow said, “because we know that every two seconds, someone's identity is stolen."

The free shredding events are part of AARP's "Operation Stop Scams" campaign. The first is coming up in Sioux Falls on Monday, April 22 - with additional events across the state through April 29.

If you suspect fraud, it can be reported through the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, at 877-908-3360.

One scam being seemingly on the rise this year involves a phone call from an impersonator representing the Social Security Administration, often threatening people with arrest or other legal action. Ganshow said seniors who might be home a good portion of the day are often singled out for phone scams.

"It's not necessarily that older people are targeted more frequently,” she said. “It's just that as the world continues to evolve, and as we move into a more digital age, we see that scammers are getting more and more sophisticated and more difficult to spot."

She said Social Security rarely contacts anyone by phone and will never make threats about arrest or legal action. Consumers should also beware of scammers impersonating charities to get money or private information. Charities can be checked out online at Guidestar and Charity Navigator.


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