In Review: Oak Creek Scam Jam - May 21st, 2025

AARP Wisconsin hosted a "Scam Jam" in Oak Creek on May 21, 2025. The event was designed to inform attendees about the latest scams and to provide an opportunity to connect directly with professionals working to fight fraud.

Check out the organizations that participated in the resource fair this event - their contact information is listed below!

Plus, take a peek at the Q&A notes at the end of this article to see what attendees were asking about.

AARP Fraud Watch Network
AARP is a non-profit non-partisan organization that offers a free fraud prevention program called the Fraud Watch Network. Visit our website for guides on common scams, articles about trending fraud stories, and more. Contact our state office to schedule a presentation in your community!

Website: aarp.org.fraudwatchnetwork
Wisconsin State office Email: wistate@aarp.org
Wisconsin State office Phone: 866-448-3611
Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360
Fraud Watch Network Support groups: aarp.org/support

Adult Protective Services
Adult protective services help elder adults and adults at risk who have been abused, neglected, or financially exploited.

If you suspect an elder adult or adult at risk has experienced, is currently experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation, your first step should be to contact the appropriate agency.

Website
Phone: 608-261-9933

Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Milwaukee County
ADRCs offer many services, including:

• Information and Assistance: Accurate and timely information regarding community resources for older adults.
• Options Counseling: One-on-one consultation about privately and publicly funded long-term care options to allow each individual to make the best-informed decisions for his or her needs.
• Benefits Specialists: Information about public and private benefits including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security among others.
• and more!

Website
Phone: 414-289-6874
Email: ADRC@milwaukeecountywi.gov

Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin
The Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin is a non-profit organization with a mission to advance marketplace trust by creating a marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. They provide balance by calling out substandard business behavior (scams, fraud, etc) and recognizing ethical, trustworthy businesses through the BBB Accreditation program.

Website

Phone: 414-847-6000 (9 am - 4pm, M-F)


WI Dept. of Agriculture Trade & Consumer Protection
The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is Wisconsin's primary consumer protection agency. Visit their website to learn more about fraud and file a report if you suspect a scam. You can also contact DATCP to schedule free community presentations.

Website
Helpline: (800) 422-7128
Email: DATCPHotline​​@wi.gov​
Learn more about DATCP's presentations.

WI Dept. of Financial Institutions (DFI)
DFI is dedicated to protecting the safety and soundness of Wisconsin’s financial institutions, safeguarding the investing public, facilitating commerce, and increasing financial capability throughout the state. Contact DFI to learn more about financial matters and to file a complaint.

Website
Phone: (608) 261-9555
File a complaint here.

Legal Action of Milwaukee
Legal Action of Wisconsin’s mission is to deliver exceptional civil legal services and structural change advocacy, free of cost, to those most in need. Learn more about the breadth of services offered by visiting their website.

Website: legalaction.org
Phone: (855) 947-2529

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee
The mission of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee is to provide equal access to legal representation to advance a more just Milwaukee.

Website
Phone: (414) 727-5300

Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office
The Milwaukee County VSO assists Milwaukee County veterans and their families to apply for a variety of benefits.

Their staff is here to help veterans and dependents navigate Federal and State benefits, including VA disability claims, education, grants, healthcare, burial, survivors benefits and connect you to local resources.

Website
Phone: (414) 266-1234

Oak Creek Public Library
The Oak Creek Public Library is your one-stop-shop for online classes, family activities, research, and more! Check out their resource specifcially related to cybersecurity, including how to respond to a data breach, device security, online privacy, and more!

Website
Drexel Town Square
8040 S. 6th Street
Oak Creek, WI 53154

Phone: 414-766-7900
Email: library@oakcreekwi.gov
Phone Renewal: 414-277-0183

Senior Medicare Patrol
The Senior Medicare Patrol helps Wisconsin Medicare beneficiaries and their advocates prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, abuse, and errors.

Website: smpwi.org
Helpline: (888) 818-2611
Email: smp-wi@gwaar.org

Social Security Administration (Milwaukee Office)
Social Security pays benefits to about 68 million people including retirees, children, and surviving spouses. From birth, to marriage, and into retirement, the program is there to provide support throughout life's journey.

Website

• Make or change an appointment to visit a local Social Security office.
• Locate & get contact information for your local office.
• Learn more about Social Security Scams.

Q: What is brushing?
A: A person receives packages containing items they didn't order. Often, there is no return address on the package. The sender of the item(s) is usually an international, third-party seller who has found the recipient’s address online. The intention is to give the impression that the recipient is a verified buyer who has written positive online reviews of the merchandise, meaning: they write a fake review in your name. These fake reviews help to fraudulently boost or inflate the products’ ratings and sales numbers, which they hope results in an increase of actual sales in the long-run. Since the merchandise is usually cheap and low-cost to ship, the scammers perceive this as a profitable pay-off. (Better Business Bureau)

Q: I want to start a new bank account online. How can you tell if an online bank is secure?
A: Contact the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions - Division of Banking.

Phone: (608) 261-7578
Email: DFIBankingRequests@dfi.wisconsin.gov

Mailing Address:
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Division of Banking
PO Box 7876
Madison, WI 53707-7876
(Dept. Of Financial Institutions)

Q: Why should I invest in Cryptocurrency?
A: While there’s potential for huge gains, the potential for huge losses is high too. As an investment, cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and unpredictable, with massive price swings. Crypto is also prone to being used in scams and fraud. Anyone looking to invest in cryptocurrencies should carefully weigh the benefits and risks.

Q: How can I spot skimming devices on point of sale machines?
Look for tampering on the machine - often there is a seal that indicates the machine has been inspected. If there is no seal, look for extra bulk around the portion of the device that accepts cards. Consider paying with cash or using the tap to pay function instead of inserting or swiping your card. (AARP – What to know about credit card skimmers)

Q: What are RFID blockers and do they work?
RFID blocking sleeves can be put over a credit card to protect it from being ‘skimmed’ by criminals. They work to prevent the information from being skimmed, however there is likely not a big risk for this on a daily basis. DATCP warns that this activity may be more common in tourist areas.

Q: Where can you report scams and why you should do it?
You can report scams in a variety of places. Usually if you report in one place, your complaint will make it to the correct agency or organization; there is no wrong door. Don’t let anything hinder you from reporting scams. You should report scams so you can get assistance to potentially recover your money and to protect your information. Fraud fighting organizations need to know about what scams are happening in your community so they can take action and raise awareness.

Report scams to the Wisconsin Dept. Of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.  

Report scams to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker 

Q: Where can you take the laptop to verify that the laptop is not affected by viruses and malware following a scam or scam attempt?
A: Research local companies that can look into this for you, or family members, so you have contact saved in your phone before you need it. You can check the BBB website to find trusted companies.

Q: What do I do if I think a legitimate business is engaging in deceptive or fraudulent behavior?
A: Keep all of your communications with the business including contracts, notices, emails, texts, etc. Reach out to the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and they can investigate.