Fraud continues to threaten families across the country, and here in Arkansas, the impact is real.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers in Arkansas reported $65.8M stolen by fraud in the first three quarters of 2025, with imposters scams far and away the most prevalent.
In response, AARP is taking action this April during Fraud Prevention Month, bringing free in-person and virtual events, workshops, and fraud-prevention resources directly to communities across Arkansas.
Free Local Events in Arkansas
Coffee & Conversations about Fighting Fraud
Enjoy coffee and pastries while discussing recent fraud schemes. Participants will receive practical advice on effectively safeguarding themselves.
Date: Tuesday, April 14
Time: 10-11 a.m.
View Details.
Scam Jam in the Delta – West Memphis
Join us for an evening of dinner, music, and discussion about scams and fraud affecting…
CLICK HERE to read the FULL AARP Fraud Prevention Month Brings Free Events to Arkansas article.
PAYROLL & HR CONTROLS (PREVENTING “GHOST” SCHEMES)
Payroll fraud is often the hardest to detect because it “looks” like a normal business expense.
- Segregation of Duties (SoD): The person who adds new employees to the system must not be the same person who approves the monthly pay run.
- Mandatory Vacation Policy: Require all financial and HR staff to take 5–10 consecutive days of leave annually. Fraud often surfaces when the perpetrator isn’t there to “hide” the trail.
- Ghost Employee Audit: Perform a quarterly “Headcount Reconciliation” where managers must physically verify every name on their payroll list exists.
- Self-Pay Blocking: Ensure the payroll software has a hard-coded block preventing administrators from editing their own salary or bank details.