Carved jack-o’-lanterns delight Halloween trick-or-treaters, but leaving pumpkins out in yards or porches where wildlife can access them can introduce a different kind of fright to Colorado neighborhoods.

Most years, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) asks the public to be diligent about properly discarding or composting pumpkins following Halloween and to never feed them to wildlife. But with the arrival of October and bear incidents continuing across many regions of the state, it is important that pumpkins are not left outside overnight even before they are carved.

As a safe practice, CPW recommends bringing pumpkins inside and displaying them in a window. Pumpkins placed outside should be brought inside before going to bed and kept inside during the day.

Learn more at https://cpw.state.co.us/news/10022026/keep-wildlife-mind-when-placing-pumpkins-season

Imposter scams come in many varieties but work the same way: a scammer pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money. Learn how to spot an imposter scam.

What Is an Imposter Scam?
An imposter scam is when a scammer lies and pretends to be someone they’re not to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. Scammers often pretend to be from a business you know or from a government agency — or both. They try to gain your trust and get you to believe they are who they claim to be.

How To Spot Imposter Scams
Scammers try to convince you they’re with the government or a business you recognize by faking the caller ID.
Scammers give you an employee ID or badge number or use the name of a real government employee.
Scammers send official-looking letters with seals and make up government agency names that sound real but aren’t.

How To Avoid Imposter Scams

• Know that you have rights and legal protections — even if you owe a debt, miss jury duty, or had your identity stolen.
• Never transfer or send money, cryptocurrency, or gold to someone you don’t know in response to an unexpected call or message.
• Don’t believe anyone who says you have to quickly move your money to “protect” it. Anyone who tells you that is a scammer.
• If there’s a problem with your account or identity, always talk about it with someone you trust — especially if the stranger on the phone says it’s serious or involves a crime or claims to be from the government.
• Don’t click on links or call phone numbers in unexpected messages. If you think the message could be real, verify the story. Contact the organization in question using a phone number, website, or email address you know is real. Don't use the contact information in the unexpected message.

 
Types of Imposter Scams

• Government and Law Enforcement Imposter Scams
• Scammers pretend to be from government organizations, law enforcement agencies, or local court systems.
• FTC impersonators – say you have to move your money to “protect it”
• IRS impersonators – claim you owe taxes and have to pay immediately, or you’ll be arrested
• Jury duty scams – say you missed jury duty, and must pay a fine
• Police / sheriff impersonators – pretend to be the local police, hoping to get you to pay a fine
• Social Security impersonators – say your benefits will end or your Social Security number will be suspended unless you pay

What To Do if You Were Scammed
If you paid someone you think is a scammer or gave them your personal information or access to your computer or phone, see What To Do if You Were Scammed at https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed

If you spot an imposter scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/. Your report could help stop a scammer.

From Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice
https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-avoid-imposter-scams