S208: Scams and Safeguards: Protecting Yourself from Fraud with Desiree Farley

Kim Wardlow talks with Desiree Farley, Community Protection Specialist at the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, about recognizing and recovering from scams and fraud. They cover tech-support pop-ups, account takeovers, spoofed calls and AI voice mimicry, contractor and door-to-door schemes, safe public Wi-Fi use, device updates, credit freezes, and why reporting matters. Practical safeguards include family “safe words,” letting unknown calls go to voicemail, verifying businesses, and contacting banks first after any loss. Resources noted: local DA offices, Colorado AG, FTC, BBB, and AARP peer support.

2) Contact Info Guest: Desiree Farley, Community Protection Specialist, Boulder County District Attorney’s Office Aftersight: [e-mail] • [phone] • aftersight.org Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight

3) Show Credits Host: Kim Wardlow Guest: Desiree Farley Producer: Jonathan Price An Aftersight Original

4) Chapter Markers 00:00 — Welcome and safety season setup 02:21 — What a Community Protection Specialist does 04:43 — Why victims should report scams 06:57 — Community alerts and EBT scam example 09:23 — Tech-support pop-ups and remote-access traps 11:22 — Spotting fake websites and resisting urgency 13:43 — Spoofed calls, AI voices, and family safe words 16:02 — Keep devices updated and know support limits 18:29 — Public Wi-Fi risks and library computers 20:57 — Contractor and door-to-door fraud basics 22:59 — Vetting businesses: SOS, BBB, complaints 25:20 — First moves after a loss: call your bank 25:39 — Red flags: crypto ATMs and payment demands 28:05 — Credit freezes vs fraud alerts 30:22 — Resources: DA, AG, FTC, BBB, AARP; speaking invites