A Fraud-Fighting Team

Two positive organizations serving older Virginians teamed up on Feb. 26. Sensational Seniors, a ministry of Riverview Baptist Church in Richmond, and AARP Virginia came together at an 11a.m. meeting in the church fellowship hall. They tackled the issue of Fraud and Identity Theft.

The criminals behind fraud and identity theft often target older people because these sophisticated perpetrators believe they may be isolated and uninformed. Identity theft is estimated to cost $150 billion annually in the United States. Additionally, and more importantly, a ruined financial reputation causes deep psychological trauma and is difficult to repair.

"Protect Yourself from Fraud and Identity Theft” is one of seven programs the AARP Virginia speakers bureau provides to any group or organization free of charge. All that is necessary to receive this valuable FREE resource is for an organization to guarantee that at least fifteen people will attend the program. Call 1-866-542-8164 or aarpva@aarp.org to request more information on the programs available and to schedule.

AARP Virginia sent three volunteers: Jackie Storrs, Michelle McQueen, Charles Blake, and a staff person, Genéa Luck to Sensational Seniors. The volunteers are all in training with Ms. Luck. Storrs and McQueen are learning the fraud material, which is provided by the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

Storrs shared moving testimony of the devastation that Identity Theft causes and spoke about the many benefits of the AARP Fraud Watch Network. She distributed the Network’s handout and gave their website address aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

McQueen gave an informative presentation on preventing the theft of credit card information through poaching radio-frequency identification (RFID). She distributed a protective case to put credit cards into that blocks this high tech theft. Blake is this reporter and photographer. Luck has comprehensive knowledge of most of the speakers bureau materials. She is a capable moderator with a delightful personality, and is willing to risk personal revelation to bond with and engage her audience.

Sensational Seniors is a dynamic ministry of Riverview Baptist Church under the leadership of Stephanie Cason. Their mission is to continue to develop members spiritually, mentally, socially, and physically, which will enhance the overall quality of life. They have been in existence for 47 years. Their programs include arts and crafts, trips, obtaining speakers, line dancing, exercise classes, and bingo. They meet once every two weeks. For information on how to participate in the program, which is open to everyone regardless of whether they attend the church, call Cason at 804-305-8139 or the church at 804-353-6135.

With more than 1 million members in Virginia, AARP is the largest organization working on behalf of people age 50+ and their families in the Commonwealth.

To learn more about AARP Virginia, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aarpvirginia and follow @AARPVa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aarpva.

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.