FRANKFORT, Ky. — Knowledge is power when it comes to identifying and fighting financial scams. Fraud experts recently equipped 65 senior citizens in Owensboro, Ky., with the knowledge needed to avoid serious and detrimental scams. Called the Owensboro Senior Scam Jam, this one-day event opened conversations about a difficult topic to discuss and understand. The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) joined the event, furthering its mission to encourage sound financial decisions through education and empowerment.
DFI’s information officer, Tasha Stewart, presented on “Recognizing and Avoiding the Top Financial Scams.” Stewart included information about investment, romance, and technical support scams, which, according to the most recent data from the IC3, are the top three scams impacting Kentucky’s elders. Additionally, the presentation focused on:
- General warning signs that a scam is taking place.
- How victims can protect themselves against scams.
- How victims can report scams to regulatory agencies such as DFI.
“If just one person avoids a scam after attending this event, then it was a success,” said Stewart, who noted the scam jam was a judgment-free space for seniors to ask questions openly. “I heard from many people who had real-life fraud examples that impacted them, their family, or their friends.” DFI will use the information gathered from Owensboro seniors to support the fight against bad actors further.
The information learned at these events also impacts the greater community by word of mouth. “An attendee will share some information they learned with their friends; before you know it, the entire community is discussing ways to avoid scams. It’s a win-win,” continued Stewart.
Attendees also heard presentations on mail fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime. Free lunch, door prizes, an adaptive exercise break, and a bluegrass music intermission were included throughout the day. DFI would like to thank AARP Kentucky for hosting and collaborating on the event.
All DFI events, including any future Senior Scam Jams, are announced on DFI’s website (KFI.ky.gov) and on Facebook (facebook.com/KYDFI/). Anyone interested in hosting a scam jam in their area should reach out to Tasha Stewart by email to [email protected].
