AARP New Jersey's Fraud Summit: Fraud 360 – Awareness, Prevention & Recovery

On Monday, April 7, 2025, AARP New Jersey hosted a pivotal event aimed at combating fraud: "Fraud 360 – Awareness, Prevention & Recovery." This summit, held in partnership with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), brought together leading experts in cybersecurity and fraud investigation to shed light on the deceptive tactics used by scammers and provide attendees with essential strategies to protect themselves.

Setting the Stage

The summit kicked off with a warm welcome from Chris Widelo, AARP NJ State Director. Widelo highlighted key statistics impacting New Jersey residents and introduced the array of AARP resources available to help them stay safe from fraud. His message underscored the importance of community awareness and proactive measures in the fight against scammers.

Following Widelo's introduction, attendees were greeted by a powerful welcome video from Senator Corey Booker. Senator Booker emphasized the collective strength of New Jersey residents in standing against the darkness created by fraud criminals. His inspiring words set a tone of unity and resilience for the day's discussions.

Expert Insights and Real-Life Cases
Detective Jeffery Johnson from NJIT shared compelling cases he has encountered throughout his career, providing a firsthand look at the realities of fraud investigations. His experiences underscored the importance of vigilance and informed decision-making in preventing fraud.

Dr. Fuad Hamidli, a Senior Lecturer in the Computer Science Department at NJIT, delivered an insightful presentation on securing one's digital presence. He explained how our digital footprints can be traced by fraudsters and offered practical advice on minimizing the impact of these trails. Dr. Hamidli's expertise in cybersecurity and cryptography provided attendees with valuable tools to safeguard their online activities.

The summit also featured a discussion by Detective Robert O'Holla, Detective Daniel Villanueva, and Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Tara Creegan. These experts augmented Dr. Hamidli's presentation with real-life cases they successfully prosecuted, illustrating how scammers profile their victims and the legal strategies used to bring them to justice.

Interactive Discussions and Practical Strategies
Throughout the event, attendees engaged in interactive discussions on various topics, including phishing, malware, impersonation attacks, and online privacy risks. These sessions provided a platform for cybersecurity professionals, criminologists, and NJIT professors to share their knowledge and answer questions, ensuring that participants left with a deeper understanding of how to stay ahead of fraudsters in today's digital world.