AARP and FBI Team Up to Alert Public on Current Consumer Scams

To help Michiganders spot and avoid scams, AARP is hosting a fraud prevention event on Tuesday, July 19 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Traverse City Senior Center Network located at 801 E. Front Street. Featured guest speakers include Jennifer Feuerstein, Associate State Director of Outreach for AARP Michigan and FBI Special Agent Daniel Olson who will share the latest intel on top fraud trends, including how to spot a scam and what to do about it. This event is free and open to the public. To register, go to https://aarp.cventevents.com/fraud719.

Last year, American consumers reported losing a record-breaking $5.8 billion to fraud, a 70 percent increase over the previous year. A recent survey by AARP found 17 percent of American adults 50-plus know a family member or loved one who has lost money to a scam. Among those scammed, 54 percent lost more than $1,000 and about 1 in 6 — 16 percent — lost more than $5,000. Criminal schemes vary, with the largest involving impostors posing as romantic interests, government employees, relatives in distress, tech-support experts or representatives of businesses or charities to steal money.

For inquiries: Cathleen Simlar, csimlar@aarp.org.