CHEYENNE (WNE) — According to a new AARP Fraud Watch Network report, an estimated 141.5 million adults (42%) have had money or sensitive information stolen through fraud.

The report highlights what U.S. adults are doing (or not doing) to protect themselves, their knowledge of top fraud tactics, and their sentiments about fraud in our society.

Most Americans are at elevated risk from fraud by using the same or similar passwords across online accounts, not using a virtual private network when on public Wi-Fi, engaging with social media quizzes, downloading free apps and responding to communication (text, messages, calls, etc.) from people they don’t know.

“The growth of the fraud industry seems to know no bounds,” said AARP Wyoming State Director Sam Shumway. “While prevention education is critical, we cannot educate our way out of this crisis. It’s important that we establish a unified front to protect ourselves and those we care about through reporting and resources.”

The 2024 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, recently released by the Federal Trade Commission, shows Wyomingites as having lost $20.1 million in total fraud losses in 2023, with a median fraud loss of $600 per incident. That ranks Wyoming 40th in the nation for fraud reported by population per 100,000 population.

The Fraudettes, a team of AARP Wyoming volunteers, host a 30-minute Zoom session every month to explore the latest scams, hear insights from guests like local law enforcement, FBI representatives, or consumer protection advocates, and test participants’ knowledge with trivia.

They are held on the third Thursday of every month at 4:30 p.m. MT. Register for the March 20 session at tinyurl.com/march-20-fraudettes. The podcasts will also be livestreamed on AARP Wyoming’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ AARPWY.