shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com AARP South Dakota Helps Taxpayers Avoid IRS Imposter And Related Scams Sioux Falls, SD – As tax time approaches, AARP’s Fraud Watch Network and AARP South Dakota are joining in efforts to help South Dakota taxpayers avoid criminal imposters who aim to defraud them. The problem is serious, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting that in 2017 tax fraud was the second most common type of identity theft reported. Over 82,000 reports were made nationwide last year with 3,278 consumer complaints by South Dakotans. But a new poll from AARP reveals that people may have a false sense of security with sixty-two percent of people reporting they’re either extremely confident or very confident in their ability to detect fraud. AARP SD is participating in the organization’s robust antifraud efforts, which currently include a free fraud helpline (877-908-3360). New information and resources include training webinars, a “Tax ID Theft” tip sheet, and a new podcast series, called “The Perfect Scam.” The series debuts today and features tips from Frank Abagnale, whose personal story inspired the Spielberg film, “Catch Me if You Can.” Abagnale now advises the FBI on how to outsmart con artists. Additionally, AARP South Dakota will be hosting a series of free cybersecurity seminars and shredding events across the state this month as part of their Operation: Stop Scams initiative. Events begin in Sioux Falls Thursday, April 12 with stops in Rapid City (April 23), Spearfish (April 24), Pierre (April 25), Aberdeen (April 26) and Watertown (April 27). Anyone of any age is invited to participate in these free events, though registration is sometimes required for luncheons. Visit aarp.org/SD to learn more about events near you. “We see repeatedly that scammers who impersonate the Internal Revenue Service work year round at trying to swindle Americans, and they’re particularly relentless in April,” said Erik Gaikowski, AARP South Dakota State Director. “While there’s no simple solution, you can outsmart cons: file your taxes early, before they beat you to it, shred financial documents you no longer need and beware of high pressure tactics. The IRS will not call and threaten arrest for taxes owed, and they certainly won’t ask for a gift card as a form of payment, but imposters will.” In its new poll, AARP found that many consumers are woefully at risk for the onslaught of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) scammers. Key findings include: • IRS scammers keep calling until they land victims, with one in four respondents (25 percent) receiving a phony call from someone impersonating an IRS agent over the last year. • Nearly four out of five respondents (79 percent) haven’t ordered a free copy of their credit report in the past 12 months. • The IRS does not email or text for your information, but more than a quarter of respondents (26 percent) incorrectly believe or are uncertain about whether the IRS can text or email requests for personal or financial information. Criminals impersonating the IRS often make aggressive threats – of arrest, court action, confiscation of property, or even deportation unless immediate payment is made. AARP’s campaign advises consumers that legitimate IRS representatives do not: • call you to demand immediate payment. • call you about taxes owed without first having contacted you by mail. • ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone or require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a gift card or prepaid debit card. • threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying. For more information about the IRS scam and other tax-related fraud, visit www.aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork. Consumers who think that they are being targeted by a scammer may call the AARP Fraud Helpline at 877-908-3360 and speak with a volunteer trained in fraud counseling. “The Perfect Scam” podcast launches today and will be available on AARP’s website and on popular podcasting platforms. Spring brings flowers and plenty of showers! Update your roof now and Save Money on repairs later! We INSTALL/RepAIR Roofs of ALL Kinds FRee Inspections & estimates Licensed / Bonded / Insured ROOFS • GUTTERS SIDING • AND MORE April 10, 2018 • Page 3 Feedback To Address The Farm Economic Situation By Alvaro Garcia SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Director & Professor Speaking in March 2018 to Newsmax Finance, Anthony Busch, a 45-year-old corn, soybeans and wheat farmer stated: "I look for a period of pretty tough times. I need to borrow money in the spring to cover the costs I pay off in the fall, so when you're buying your seeds, your fertilizer, you have to take on your debt all at once. If you want to stick in this business, you have to be an eternal optimist. We may not have cheap interest rates. But we'll still have to eat." Mr. Busch's statements pretty much summarized what's has been going on in the U.S. farm sector for several years. It is not just about crop production at a relatively fair price anymore, it is also about being able to sustain the farm family budget. It is about maintaining the necessary optimism to remain in business, and still be confident that the situation will turn around. According to Bloomberg News U.S. farm income will hit a 12-year low in 2018. In its first 2018 broadcast, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted farmer profits will drop 6.7 percent this year to $59.5 billion. That's the lowest since 2006, down 52 percent from a record high of $123.8 BROOKINGS, S.D. - In an effort to ing, goal setting, tracking spending, financial literacy include: one-on-one emphasize the important of financial retirement, insurance, and credit is financial counseling, small and large literacy and teach Americans how to available at the Family and Personal group financial programs, on-line coursestablish and maintain healthy financial Finance community. es, and worksite wellness programs. habits April is recognized throughout Year-round the U.S. as Financial Literacy month. focus "Financial literacy is your ability to Through make sound financial decisions based her role with on your financial knowledge. A high SDSU Extension, level of financial literacy will improve Saboe-Wounded your financial well-being," said Lorna Head, works Saboe-Wounded Head, SDSU Extension with consumer Family Resource Management Field across the state Specialist. of South Dakota Let's celebrate to improve their Throughout the month of April, the personal finance Financial Literacy and Education Comskills and knowlth th th December 2nd rd, 9th mission (FLEC) has developed tools & 3edge. & 10 , 16 & 17 • 1-3:00PM and resources designed to encourage Bring Your Cameras!Ways she consumers to take action to improve works with 301 E. 3rd Street, Yankton, SD their financial well-being. South Dakotans 665-3588 Weekly themes for the month to increase their include: April 8-14, 2018 - Saving April 15-21, 2018 -Protection through insurance •Busch & Busch Light 30 pks ........... $14.99 April 22-30, 2018 - General financial preparedness •Old Milwaukee & Light 30 pks ........$14.99 To access tools and resources for each theme, visit •Miller High Life & Light 30 pks ........$13.99 the USA.gov website. 109 W. 3rd St. • 605-665-7865 * Yankton Meridian District * www.yanktonrexall.com Information about budget- Sell us Your Stuff! Spring Cleaning We’ll buy almost anything! RIVERCITY Treasures & Pawn Always LOW Liquor Prices! MIDWEST OIL 55 or 30 Gallon Drum $7.89 Per Gal. XHD 30W $8.35 Per Gal. XHD 10-30 $8.35 Per Gal. XHD 15-40 $7.67 Per Gal. XHD 10W $6.41 Per Gal. Heavy Med. Hyd. Oil $6.23 Per Gal. Medium Hyd. Oil $7.60 Per Gal. UTF Fluid Gearlube 80-90 Gearlube 85-140 ATF Dexron III 30 Gallon Drum $9.30 Per Gal. $9.07 Per Gal. $8.31 Per Gal. 5 Gallon Pail $50.85 $51.30 $51.30 $45.25 $39.90 $39.00 $48.25 5 Gallon Pail $54.90 $54.40 $49.50 Prices Effective thru April 30, 2018 30 Gal. Drum Superlube 518 30W 30 Gal. Drum Superlube TMS 15-40 30 Gal. Drum Qwiklift HTB Case 4-10 Packs Bluegard Grease 10-Pack Bluegard Grease 2x21/2 Container 518 30W 2x21/2 Container TMS 15-40 $12.17 Per Gal. $11.92 Per Gal. $12.30 Per Gal. $117.60 Per Case $29.40 Per Pk. $12.90 Per Gal. $13.25 Per Gal. Prices Effective thru April 30, 2018 BULK LUBRICANTS Universal Tractor Fluid 15-40 CJ 4 $6.40 Per Gal. $8.46 Per Gal. DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID 55 Gal. Drum: $2.30 Per Gal. 2.5 Gal. Jug: $4.58 Per Gal. Tote: $2.10 Per Gal. Mobil Delvac 1300 15-40 Shell Rotella 15-40 CJ-4 55 Gallon Drum $12.90 Per Gal. $11.75 Per Gal. 5 Gallon Pail $14.60 Per Gal. $13.03 Per Gal. Prices Effective thru April 30, 2018 T5X 30W 55 Gal. Drum 30 Gal. Drum 5 Gal. Pail 12 Qt. Case $9.89/gal. $10.49/gal. $10.79/gal. $11.62/gal. 55 Gal. Drum $8.54/gal. 30 Gal. Drum $10.49/gal. 5 Gal. Pail $9.84/gal. SUPER STA GREASE 605-857-1472 (Yankton) Technology Coordinator; Adele Harty, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist; Michelle May, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor - Butte/Lawrence Counties; Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head, SDSU Extension Family Resource Management Field Specialist. To understand how we can best serve South Dakota producers we are conducting a random survey of 10 percent South Dakota agriculture producers. The poll will go out this April together with self-addressed stamped envelopes to 10% of our farms or 3,150 out the roughly 31,150 total. Distribution will be at random in 350 farms in each of the nine quadrants that SDSU and USDA use to describe other aspects of our state: Northwest, North central, North East, West Central, Central, East Central, South West, South Central, and South East. The survey is confidential and includes several topics including: demographics, production, finances, and sources of emotional strain. Once we receive completed surveys, our team will also make the survey to all producers through social media. The data of these surveys will be utilized to guide the development and distribution of SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources programming for 2018 and into the future. April Is Financial Literacy Month HG FLUID 407 Ruth Street, Yankton, SD billion in 2013. To Best Serve During Tough Times, SDSU Extension Asks Agriculture Producers for Feedback Starting a few years ago, the SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources team discussed how to incorporate into its outreach researchbased information that pertains to the South Dakota farm economy. Today, we face a situation that has worsened significantly since our early efforts. Farms are undergoing significant economic woes that have resulted in not only financial difficulties but emotional strain. To avoid assuming what South Dakota's agriculture producers' need and maximize our outreach efforts, our team put together a highly diversified Farm Economy Task Force. This task force discussed the best approach to maximize impact - similar to what we did to address the 2017 drought effort. In addition to myself, the task force includes: Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist; Ruth Beck, SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist; Andrea Bjornestad, Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Mental Health Specialist; Jack Davis, SDSU Extension Crops Business Management Field Specialist; Tracey Erickson, SDSU Extension Dairy Field Specialist; Lindsey Gerard, SDSU Extension iGrow 10 Pack Tubes $24.50 Per Pack $89.25 Per Pail 5 Gal. Pail SHD II 15-40 or FLEET 15-40 55 Gal. Drum 30 Gal. Drum 5 Gal. Pail 12 Qt. Case $9.09/gal. $10.29/gal. $10.39/gal. $11.40/gal. POWER TRAN 55 Gal. Drum $8.54/gal. 30 Gal. Drum $10.49/gal. 5 Gal. Pail $9.84/gal. Prices Effective thru April 30, 2018 We Carry Drip Oil, Anti Freeze, Parts Solvent, Gas & Fuel Hoses, Nozzles & Pump Filters Lube Warehouse Hours: Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 3004 E Hwy. 50 • Yankton, SD 1-800-456-0744 Darren: 857-0433 • 665-5568 Join Us! Saturday, April 14, 2018 • 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. CAREER FAIR OPEN HOUSE Saturday, April 14, 2018 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. • Learn about Career Opportunities at Masaba • Refreshments, Tours & Giveaway Drawings • KVHT on-location live broadcast For more information please contact Wendy Sommervold at Wendy.Sommervold@masabainc.com or call 605-658-8928. We look forward to seeing you!