Arkansas

Arkansas officials work to combat rising financial fraud targeting residents

Published

2 months ago

February 9, 2026

Arkansas officials work to combat rising financial fraud targeting residents

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Financial fraud continues to plague Arkansas residents as scammers target victims through phone calls and text messages, costing Americans over $16 billion in losses in 2024 according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Lorrie Trogden, president and CEO of the Arkansas Bankers Association, said the losses increase by double-digit percentages each year.

“They get higher and higher every year, and not by one or two percent, by double-digit percent,” Trogden said. “Despite how big those numbers are, we know those aren’t the real numbers. They’re actually much higher because people don’t report.”

Personal costs drive legislative action

Former State Representative Carlton Wing experienced the effects firsthand when his childhood Sunday school teacher fell victim to a lottery scam.

“She gets this email that says, ‘Congratulations, you’ve won the lottery and we’re going to give you $18 million for your winnings,’” Wing said. “She was so excited about that. They just said, ‘You just have to pay the taxes on the lottery and that’s how it starts.’”

Wing said repeated efforts by himself and authorities to stop his teacher were unsuccessful. The average person loses over $80,000 in scams, Wing said, though his teacher’s case involved “much, much more than that.”

The experience led Wing to help pass Act 1015 through the Arkansas legislature in 2021, designed to help financial institutions delay or stop certain attempts to scam elderly residents.

“There was really not much of a model anywhere else in the country. We were able to pull things from a few states and then apply them to Arkansas,” Wing said.

Banks face challenges stopping customer-initiated fraud

Every dollar lost to financial fraud costs a financial institution $5.75, Trogden said. Scams make up about 38% of overall fraud loss for financial institutions.

“Part of the problem is that many of these scams are customer initiated,” Trogden said. “So, they are contacted by the scammer and then they willingly, albeit they’re not just doing it, they’re being tricked into it, but they are willingly giving over their banking information or they’re going to the bitcoin machine.”

Bank employees are trained to identify signs of scams, but stopping customers remains difficult even when workers recognize fraud attempts.

“We have put every countermeasure in place that we could possibly think of but at the end of the day if the customer initiates the funds transfer, then there’s not much we can do about it,” Trogden said.

Romance scams, imposter scams, and online shopping scams are the most common scams bankers encounter. Victims typically respond the same way, Trogden said: “I thought this one was legitimate. I’m so careful. But this seemed so every day.”

Attorney general launches task force

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin launched a financial fraud task force last year after recognizing the need for better coordination with financial institutions.

“The reason we wanted to do that is we would often learn of a scam and we would find out that the banks were seeing it before we do,” Griffin said. “Why don’t we start meeting with banks so we know it ahead of time?”

Griffin said his own mother receives frequent scam attempts through texts and phone calls.

“This threat involves everybody but it’s particularly focused or troublesome for the elderly,” Griffin said.

The task force meets quarterly to share information about crimes financial institutions are seeing, giving the attorney general’s office better tools to pursue perpetrators. Griffin said his office cannot always recover victims’ money but emphasized the importance of reporting fraud.

“You’re putting it on our radar, you’re telling us what’s going on and we know what to look out for and we can warn others about it and save money as a result,” Griffin said.

Artificial intelligence presents new challenges

Trogden called artificial intelligence a “double-edged sword” in the fight against fraud.

“AI can data mine for any facts about you, any photos of you, and put together a profile that it is you trying to do these transactions or trying to do these things but then, on the flip side, banks are able to harness that same power to look for this fraud and to utilize it within their banking systems,” Trogden said.

Prevention tips for residents

Trogden offered several recommendations to protect against scams:

Never provide information to unsolicited contacts online
Call back using official numbers to verify legitimate requests
Only open texts or emails from known contacts
Establish family passwords to prevent imposter fraud
Report suspected fraud immediately to banks before contacting law enforcement

“Do not talk to these people,” Trogden said. “They are criminals and they don’t deserve your kindness.”

She emphasized the importance of quickly reporting the fraud to their bank, even before calling law enforcement.

“Call the bank,” she said. “Because the quicker you let the bank know, there might be an opportunity to claw that money back.”

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Arkansas

Arkansas Lottery Cash 3, Cash 4 winning numbers for April 19, 2026

Published

3 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Cash 3 numbers from April 19 drawing

Evening: 5-3-2

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from April 19 drawing

Evening: 7-5-4-8

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from April 19 drawing

02-07-17-20-23

Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing

32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Arkansas

Central Arkansas council hands out 300 free produce bags at Saline County fresh market

Published

15 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Central Arkansas council hands out 300 free produce bags at Saline County fresh market

BENTON, Ark. (KATV) — Saline County residents got a fresh boost earlier today when the Central Arkansas Development Council hosted its third Fresh Market event in the county, handing out about 300 bags of fresh produce free of charge.

The council, described as the largest community action agency in Arkansas, said the event is part of its ongoing effort to address food insecurity in the state and expand access to healthy food options.

“What we’re here to do is we’re here to be what our community needs us to be,” Randy Morris, CEO of Central Arkansas Development Council, said. “We are here to serve our mission, which is to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, to help vulnerable populations achieve their potential and to build strong communities in Arkansas through community action.”

The council also said it was rewarded funds by the government to host an emergency food drive that will happen soon.

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Arkansas

No. 6 Arkansas ends top-ranked OU’s 31-game home winning streak with 3-2 decision

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

No. 6 Arkansas ends top-ranked OU’s 31-game home winning streak with 3-2 decision

FAYETTEVILL – In a thrilling contest that featured 5.1 impressive innings in the circle from sophomore Payton Burnham and a go-ahead two-run home run from Tianna Bell, the No. 6/8 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated No. 1 Oklahoma, 3-2, on Saturday night at Love’s Field to even the series and set up a winner-take-all series finale on Sunday.

Win the win, Arkansas recorded its third victory in program history over a consensus No. 1-ranked opponent, having previously defeated UCLA (Feb. 18, 2011) and Cal (May 19, 2012).

It also marked the Razorbacks’ third win in program history over a No. 1 opponent in the ESPN/USA Softball Poll and the fifth over a top-ranked team in the NFCA Coaches Poll.

Arkansas (36-7, 11-6 SEC) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning courtesy of an RBI double down the right-field line from Kennedy Miller. The Sooners then tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning, with a solo home run from Sydney Emerling.

Tianna Bell put the Hogs ahead for good by blasting a two-run homer into the left-center field bleachers in the top of the fifth inning. Oklahoma’s Kendall Wells accounted for the final run of the contest with a solo shot to left field, bringing the score to 3-2.

The Razorbacks’ pitching staff did not allow a walk in the win. Payton Burnham was phenomenal in the circle during her 10th victory of the season, striking out three while allowing two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings of work.

Robyn Herron earned her fourth save of the season by retiring the final five Oklahoma batters in the contest.

In addition to Bell’s two-run blast and Miller’s RBI double, Reagan Johnson and Kailey Wyckoff singled in the victory.

Sydney Berzon fell to 5-2 on the season for Oklahoma (41-6, 14-3 SEC) after allowing two runs on two hits with one strikeout in her 4.2 innings pitched.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

On the victory…
“Any win right now is a big one for the program. It was really great in this environment just to see our team stay the course and trust themselves. It is a hostile environment that is very loud. They have a lot of energy. For our team to just lean into each other and find a way to get the win was big. Any win is really big, so it just feels really awesome.”

On Payton Burnham’s performance…
“She was in her element. She loves the big moment. She wants the ball, and she was locked in today. She was dialed, and I am really proud of her.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

Payton Burnham earned her 12th start of the season in the circle for Arkansas, while Oklahoma gave the ball to Miali Guachino.

In the top of the first inning, Guachino retired the Hogs in order courtesy of a pair of groundouts and a lineout. Burnham spun a 1-2-3 bottom of the first courtesy of a groundout, strikeout, and a groundout.

Kailey Wyckoff recorded the first hit of the contest with a two-out single up the middle in the top of the second inning. She would later come around to score a batter later on an RBI double down the right-field line from Kennedy Miller, giving the Hogs a 1-0 lead.

Cam Harrison followed Miller’s double with a walk, but OU would escape without further damage courtesy of OU right fielder Ella Parker taking an extra-base hit away from Karlie Davison with a catch at the wall in right field.

Burnham spun another scoreless frame in the home half of the second inning, highlighted by a 6-4 double play from shortstop Atalyia Rijo, who snagged a line drive and threw to Davison at second base to double off the Sooners’ Gabbie Garcia, who reached on a leadoff single.

Brinli Bain drew a one-out walk in the top of the third inning, prompting Oklahoma to make a pitching change and bring in LSU transfer Sydney Berzon.

Wyckoff made an incredible catch with a leaping grab at the wall in left field for the first out of the bottom of the third. She would then catch a pair of fly balls as Burnham completed a 1-2-3 frame.

Berzon retired the Hogs in order during the top of the fourth inning. Burnham recorded a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning while picking up her second and third strikeouts of the night.

Reagan Johnson reached courtesy of a two-out infield single in the top of the fifth inning. Oklahoma first baseman Isabella Imerling tied the game with a leadoff solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Following the home run, Reagan Johnson made a diving catch in right-center field to take away an extra-base hit from Pickering.

Ella McDowell was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the sixth inning. Tianna Bell then gave Arkansas a 3-1 lead with a two-run shot into the left-center field bleachers, her 14th of the season, tying Dakota Kennedy for the team-lead.

Oklahoma made it a one-run ballgame with a one-out solo home run off the bat of freshman Kendall Wells. Following the home run, Robyn Herron entered the circle and would retire the next two batters faced by way of a strikeout and a lineout.

Berzon retired the Hogs in order in the top of the seventh inning. Herron trotted out to the circle looking to complete the save in the bottom of the seventh.

Herron fanned Imerling for the first out of the frame before issuing a lineout to Johnson in center field for the second out.

She then got Aliana Agbayani to ground out to Karlie Davison at second for the final out of the win as Arkansas evened the series and improved to 36-7 overall and 11-6 in SEC play.

NOTABLES

Reagan Johnson registered her 205th start batting leadoff, which tied the career program record set by Devon Wallace, 205 (2012-2015).
Payton Burnham improved to 10-3 this season after striking out three and allowing just two runs on four hits and no walks in 5.1 innings. Arkansas is now 22-6 when a starting pitcher goes 5+ innings without allowing a walk.
Tianna Bell blasted her 46th career home run and 14th home run this season with a two-run shot in the top of the sixth inning. Bell is now tied for the team lead in home runs alongside Dakota Kennedy.
Kyler Del Duca recorded her first collegiate start, batting eighth and playing left field.
Arkansas had five different outfielders in the victory (Reagan Johnson CF, Kailey Wyckoff RF/LF, Ramsey Walker LF/RF, Kyler Del Duca LF, Brinli Bain RF)
Kennedy Miller increased her career-high reached base streak to 11 games.
Arkansas is 148-41 since 2001, when its pitching staff issues no walks in a game. The Razorbacks are 94-18 when issuing no walks under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present). Arkansas has won 21 of its last 22 when issuing zero walks dating back to April 6, 2023.
Arkansas snapped Oklahoma’s 31-game home winning streak, which was the longest active winning streak in the nation entering the contest.

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