The sheriff&squo;s office and police departments have had complaints recently regarding companies offering to cut and prune trees who ask for payment before completing the work. The &uot;Your Money&uot; classes will cover bad business transactions, internet scams, and a &uot;secret shopper scam,&uot; where people are being sought to be paid for shopping.

Polk County Magistrate Lionel Gilbert will moderate the program.

Gilbert says people in general do not understand the difference between criminal law and civil law.

&dquo;Just because you&squo;ve made a bad business decision, that doesn&squo;t mean it&squo;s a crime,&dquo; Gilbert says.

The program is aimed to educate people about how to protect themselves from individuals who are looking to prey on people. The program will also review current threats and the best ways to handle those situations.

Any churches interested in providing a location for the program are urged to call the sheriff&squo;s office at 894-3001.

The programs, once scheduled, will be advertised in the local paper and through churches.