Credit: Submitted
State Rep. Joe Hogan is partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities to host a free “Scam Jam” seminar on Friday to educate the public on online safety and how to avoid fraud.
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Many Bucks Countians have or will become victims of fraud. Local police departments often report fraud impacting area residents.
The event hosted by the Republican lawmakers from Middletown Township will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Neshaminy Activity Center located at 1842 Brownsville Road in Lower Southampton, according to Hogan’s office.
Attendees can expect to hear from a lineup of fraud experts from the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, a local police department, and the Campaign for Wise and Safe Investing.
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The experts will be on hand to answer questions and share tips for staying safe online.
The seminar will also feature a game of fraud BINGO, a popular activity at previous events, and light refreshments will be provided.
The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Interested individuals are urged to call Hogan’s office at 215-752-6750 to RSVP.
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According to the Federal Trade Commission, here are four signs that something a scam:
1. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations.
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They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID. So the name and number you see might not be real.
2. Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.
They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Or you owe money. Or someone in your family had an emergency. Or that there’s a virus on your computer.
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Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information.
Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it.
3. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.
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Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story.
They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted.
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4. Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.
They often insist that you pay by using cryptocurrency, by wiring money through a company like MoneyGram or Western Union, or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back.
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Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), then tell you to deposit it and send them money.
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