Sept Workshop on Fraud
With the complexity of Internet schemes and popularity of hacking, many people of every age group are victimized every day. This was a key message of Jay Haapala of AARP (Amer. Assn. of Retired People), who has given over 500 workshops on the topic.
According to Jay, the most attempted crimes are financial scams including Prize Winning Scams. The most popular scams in Minnesota are: (1) Imposter scams, such as when a person calls and claims that he/she is your grandchild and needs money desperately and quickly; (2) Identity Theft, where somebody pretends to be you when opening a bank or credit card account in your name and then runs up big charges on it; (3) Debt collectors, when people claim the victim owes them an immediate debt payoff.
Nationwide in 2015, 12.6 million became victims of such scams with $20.9 billion stolen. Jay said “Look out for ‘Red Flags’ related to luxury vacation properties, free meals and pressure to buy, and hired actors who are paid to act as potential buyers. You can also protect yourself by (1) Monitoring your personal accounts and credit reports, (2) Being cautious about cash and gift cards, (3) Using credit cards that have the new EMV chip.
If you do become a victim of fraudulent activity, you have 60 days to report it and 10 days for the bank to give you your money back.
Jay Haapala stressed that public Wi-Fi is not secure, and he recommended that your home network should be secured by a strong password. If you use public Wi-Fi, try to avoid using it for any email or other transactions where your personal information is identified.
Be alert to all the accounts listed in your credit report. If there are any errors, they should be reported to the credit agency ASAP.
If you want to check on the data breach at Equifax, go to equifaxsecurity2017.com. In order to have additional protection you may want to put a FREEZE or LOCK on each of your credit accounts, which prevents companies from obtaining a credit report. You will need to contact all three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and Transunion) to request a freeze.
Here are some other useful tips to avoid fraud: (1) Avoid wire transfer of money because it has no consumer protection, (2) Don’t click on a link you do not recognize, (3) Shred personal information prior to disposal, (4) Be very careful with your private information even with family and friends.
-Gwen Perun and Larry Johnson, UMRA Cares Committee
September 26 Workshop: How to Avoid fraud, scams, and identity theft
Tue, September 26 2017, 1:30pm
Conference Room ABC, Campus Club, Fourth Floor, Coffman Memorial Union
People age 50 and older control more than 70 percent of the nation's wealth today and the scammers know it. They’re using the telephone, U.S. mail, email, and the Internet and may even appear on your doorstep trying to get your money. New technology has made it easier for criminals to gain access to our personal information and savings, and for some of us, aging-related issues like memory loss can increase vulnerability. Understanding the latest trends and tactics in fraud can help us all to protect our own savings and help others who are more vulnerable.
This AARP-designed workshop is based on the analysis of undercover FBI recordings of con artists in action. AARP has partnered with the FBI on the national level to educate people about financial crime because the best defense is to prevent crime in the first place. Topics covered range from consumer fraud, scams, identity theft, and cyber security to credit card theft and financial theft within the family.
Our workshop leader, Jay Haapala, is the associate state director of Community Outreach with AARP Minnesota. He also leads the state’s Fraud Watch Network, which serves to educate consumers about fraud, scams, and identity theft. Haapala and AARP Fraud Fighter volunteers have met with more than 400 community groups across the state, law enforcement officials, and fraud investigators, learning how people are being targeted by financial crime right here in Minnesota. Haapala has worked and served in the Minnesota nonprofit sector for 18 years building volunteer programs, and now is doing the same to build a network of fraud fighter volunteers with AARP.
Join us after the UMRA luncheon at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 26, for this important and timely workshop. The money and identity you save could be your own!
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.