Senior Fraud Protection Summit Returns to Kalispell
The Senior Fraud Protection Summit is coming back to Kalispell on April 1.
The summit helps educate and spread awareness on fraud scams targeting seniors.
According to the FBI, just over 400 Montana seniors reported losing nearly $5.5 million in 2021, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting phone calls as the main way scammers contact older adults.
My Glacier Village is partnering with Flathead Electric Cooperative, Glacier Bank, Merill Lynch and Nonprofit Tech Services to organize the event.
The summit is open to people of all ages and starts at 1 p.m. at the Arts and Technology Building on the Flathead Valley Community College Campus.
To register for the summit, click here.
My Glacier Village released the following information:
The public is invited to the second annual Senior Fraud Protection Summit on April 1 to learn about how to protect against fraud scams that target seniors.
My Glacier Village is organizing the event in partnership with Flathead Electric Cooperative, Glacier Bank, Merrill Lynch and Nonprofit Tech Services. The partner organizations want to increase awareness and education to reduce and eliminate the theft that can greatly impact their older clients. The event will help people understand how to recognize and protect themselves from fraud and scams.
The Senior Fraud Protection Summit will be Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arts & Technology Building on the Flathead Valley Community College campus in Kalispell.
The keynote speaker for the event will be Jake Griffith, supervising attorney with the Montana Department of Justice- Office of Consumer Protection. Frank Garner, former Montana State Representative, will lead a panel of specialists who will focus on fraud scams that target seniors, provide tips on how to avoid becoming a victim, discuss resources to assist seniors, and a question/answer session. Complimentary copies of “Fighting Fraud: Top Scams in 2021” by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging will be available to participants. Light refreshments including pastries, fruit and coffee will be served. Pre-registration is required by visiting www.myglacier.com/events or by calling 406-250-8784.
Each year more and more individuals are victims of some type of financial fraud. According to the FBI, 406 seniors in Montana reported losses of almost $5.5 million in 2021. Phone calls are the main method of contact used by scammers to reach older adults according to the Federal Trade Commission. The top fraud situations include government imposter scams, shopping scams, identity theft, robocalls, romance scams, and health care and health insurance scams.
Seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite, and usually have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit. Scams affect the financial, emotional and physical health of people. Many times, individuals feel angry and embarrassed and are unwilling to discuss a fraud incident, or may be in denial that it happened. Seniors may be hesitant to share details of the event with others, including loved ones, due to a fear of possible actions that restrict financial independence and decision-making responsibilities.
Glacier Village Founder and Board Chair Jenn Prunty said, “We initiated the conversation about senior fraud last year and are thrilled to continue this awareness and education about this increasing theft that can easily devastate lives.” She added, “It’s a conversation we should all be having.”
Built for seniors by seniors, My Glacier Village is a local chapter of a national nonprofit organization where seniors have a sense of belonging and everyone has something to contribute. The organization provides the connections, education and support that seniors in the Flathead Valley community need to remain confident in their own homes. A variety of educational workshops and activities are sponsored that help seniors stay active and connected to friends and community. My Glacier Village also provides volunteer services, such as rides to appointments, help with groceries, and assistance with small house projects, that make it easier for seniors to age in their homes.
For more information visit www.myglaciervillage.com or call 406-250-8784.