Twin Cities Scam Jam 2015

Description

AARP MN and BBB to Host Metro Scam Jam - June 3
Fraud prevention event for seniors will be filmed by tpt
 
Burnsville, Minnesota – May 21, 2015 – AARP Minnesota and Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota ® (BBB) are partnering, along with Twin Cities Public Television (tpt), to offer Twin Cities Scam Jam 2015 on Wednesday, June 3 at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley. This free event, aimed at educating seniors about identity theft and the many schemes which target them, takes place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
 
Featured speakers at Scam Jam event include: Lori Swanson, Minnesota Attorney General; Mike Rothman, Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner; and Todd Kossow, Assistant Director of the Federal Trade Commission. There will also be a panel of seniors who have fallen victim to scams providing their stories and perspectives. Twin Cities Public Television will film portions of the event for a special on combatting fraud that will air later this year.
 
“Too many times we’ve heard firsthand how devastating fraud can be,” said Lisa Jemtrud, Director of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota’s Educational Foundation, the Institute for Marketplace Ethics. “In regard to seniors and scams, financial losses are more difficult to make up, which is why it’s so important to empower this group to make the right decisions.”
 
It’s estimated that Americans lose more than $40 billion per year to telephone scams alone, and seniors are often among the biggest targets for this type of fraud. Scammers know that many seniors are trusting, have nest eggs and are often reachable by phone. Fraudsters gain a toehold with seniors by getting to know them and pretending to be on their side. However, in far too many cases, requests for payments – either to claim supposed sweepstakes winnings or as part of investment schemes – soon follow and can lead to significant long-term financial and emotional damage.
 
Identity theft is also a concern for seniors. This type of fraud was once again – for the 15^th straight year – the top complaint reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Last year, 13 percent of the 2.5 million complaints they received were related to identity theft, according to their 2014 annual report.
 
“The number one thing people can do to protect their identity and savings is to understand the tactics con artists are using to get access to their personal information and money,” said Will Phillips, AARP Minnesota State Director. “Joining us at the Twin Cities Scam Jam is a great way to get the latest information and trends about identity theft and consumer fraud straight from the experts.”
 
Event Details
Twin Cities Scam Jam 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015; 9 a.m. – 12:30 (Continental Breakfast, coffee and treats will be served).
Metropolitan Ballroom
5418 Wayzata Boulevard
Golden Valley, MN 55416
 
FREE, open to the public
Register today at aarp.cvent.com/2015ScamJam or 877-926-8300. 
 
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with more than 650,000 members in Minnesota, that works to help people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. Learn more at www.aarp.org/mn.
 
The mission of Better Business Bureau is to be the leader in building marketplace trust by promoting, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct, and to instill confidence in responsible businesses through programs of education and action that inform, assist and protect the general public. We are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact BBB at bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free at 1-800-646-6222.