TOM LATEK, Kentucky Today

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - In the last several weeks, the Public Protection Cabinet says it has seen a rise in impersonation scams across the state, including scammers posing as Kentucky State Police, the Transportation Cabinet and the Energy and Environment Cabinet.

Follow these tips from the Federal Trade Commission to avoid becoming a victim:

--Don't wire money or use gift cards, cryptocurrency or a payment app to pay someone who says they're with the government. Scammers know it's hard to track these types of payments and just as hard to get it back.

--Don't give out your financial or personal information to someone posing as the government. If you think a call or message could be real, hang up the phone and call the government agency directly at a number you know is correct.

--Don't trust your caller ID. Your caller ID might show the government agency's real phone number or name -- such as "Social Security Administration." But caller ID can be faked. It could be anyone calling from anywhere in the world.

--Don't click on links in unexpected emails, texts or social media messages. Scammers are good at making these messages look like they are from a government agency but are designed to steal your money and personal information.

"Scams are cruel and cost Kentuckians money that could be going toward rent, groceries, retirement and more," said Gov. Andy Beshear. "Our law enforcement officers are committed to protecting our people, including by tracking down scammers and helping bring them to justice. This partnership will give Team Kentucky more tools to prevent scams and protect Kentuckians' hard-earned dollars."

According to the most recent FBI report on internet scams, Kentuckians are losing more than $74 million dollars annually to cyber scammers. With the integration of technology in our everyday lives and the emergence of artificial intelligence, scams are on the rise and more sophisticated than ever. Education and awareness are the keys to protecting people from financial loss.

Kentuckians can report scams to the Attorney General's office by filing a Scam Report.​