Colorado Sheriff's Office Launches Fraud Awareness Training

Program aims to educate seniors and reduce fraud victims in the state

Feb. 21, 2026 at 2:38am

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The Boulder County Sheriff's Office has launched a new fraud awareness training program to help educate the public, especially senior citizens, about common scams and how to avoid becoming victims. The program is led by victim advocate Stephen Conley, who has personal experience with his own family members falling for fraud schemes. The training sessions cover tactics used by scammers, warning signs to look out for, and steps to take to protect oneself.

Why it matters

Colorado ranks 7th in the nation for fraud complaints per capita, and scammers stole over $243 million from Colorado residents in 2024 - a 30% increase from the previous year. Seniors are often targeted by fraudsters due to their accumulated wealth, making this training program an important initiative to protect vulnerable members of the community.

The details

The fraud awareness training program is a volunteer effort led by Sheriff's Office victim advocate Stephen Conley. The program offers free sessions to senior centers, community groups, businesses and other organizations, with the goal of equipping people with knowledge and tools to avoid becoming victims. The training covers common scam elements like urgency, requests for secrecy or money transfers out of the country, and encourages people to pause and verify before acting.

  • The fraud awareness training program launched on Friday, February 21, 2026.
  • In 2024, scammers stole over $243 million from Colorado residents, a 30% increase from the previous year.

The players

Stephen Conley

The sheriff's office victim advocate who is behind the fraud awareness training program. Conley has personal experience with his own family members falling victim to scams, which is why he is passionate about bringing awareness to these crimes.

Nyla Witmore

A victim of fraud who participated in the training session and shared her experience of nearly falling for a scam, but was able to stop the payment in time with the help of her bank.

Boulder County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that launched the fraud awareness training program to educate the public and reduce the number of fraud victims in the state.

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What they’re saying

“The biggest common element is that whatever they're doing is urgent. It must be done right now. They get you to act before you have time to think and before you can talk to anybody.”

— Stephen Conley, Victim Advocate, Boulder County Sheriff's Office

“I actually set myself up for it. What ended up happening was that, when my check was cashed, I happened to notice that it wasn't to this company that I thought I was dealing with. I was feeling very defenseless.”

— Nyla Witmore, Fraud Victim

“I think our communities need it more than once a year. We need it two or three times a year to remind us what's still out there, and to refresh our memory of the things to avoid and how to recognize the scam.”

— Nyla Witmore, Fraud Victim

What’s next

The fraud awareness training program is currently offered as a free service to senior centers, community groups, businesses and other organizations in the Boulder County area. The sheriff's office plans to continue expanding the program to reach more residents and reduce the number of fraud victims in Colorado.

The takeaway

This training program highlights the growing threat of fraud and scams, especially targeting vulnerable populations like senior citizens. By educating the public on common tactics used by fraudsters and providing tools to recognize and avoid these schemes, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office aims to empower residents and protect the community from financial exploitation.