'Roadshow' to Help Idahoans Avoid Cybercriminals

Financial fraud has gone from criminals seeking “small money grabs” to “industrialized financial-crime machines” involving thousands of employees.

That’s the assessment of John Yaros, securities bureau chief for the Idaho Department of Finance, who wants Idahoans to understand that they might not be communicating with friends or potential romantic partners online. Sometimes, the people on the other end of the line are working for well-organized cybercrime outfits that work “all day, every day” to go after your life savings, he says.

Yaros and other financial experts will spread the word at the Senior Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Roadshow, offering tips on how to avoid being targeted by cybercriminals.

AARP Idaho is a host of the roadshow, which has four stops:

• Idaho Falls Public Library on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1–3 p.m.
• Twin Falls Public Library, Thursday, Sept. 25, 1–3 p.m.
• McCall Public Library,Wed-nesday, Oct. 8, 1–3 p.m.
• Coeur d’Alene Public Library, Friday, Oct. 10, 1–3 p.m.

Each event will have a reception with refreshments and prizes. Go to aarp.org/id to register.

The sessions will highlight red flags that can signal a potential scam — like a new online friend who cultivates a relationship, then nonchalantly mentions a cryptocurrency trading opportunity and creates a sense of urgency by saying there’s a limited window to score big.

These events will provide information on other exploitative methods criminals use, such as posing as a government official or a tech-support worker.

According to the FBI, Idaho consumers lodged more than 3,000 cybercrime complaints in 2024, with more than $63 million in losses. That’s up from more than 1,800 complaints in 2021, with $17.7 million in losses.

—Rita Beamish