Fraud prevention workshop set for this Saturday

Elder fraud has long been a problem, but it’s not just happening to “elders” anymore. A workshop is planned on Saturday featuring social worker Alyshia Dyer, co-hosted by the Manchester Seniors and the Manchester United Methodist Church.

by Marsha Chartrand

Have you ever been a victim of fraud? Do you know anyone who has?

Chances are more and more likely, the answer is yes — if it isn’t you, it’s someone you know.

Senior citizens are frequently victims of fraud, but it’s not only seniors. No one is completely safe from being a target of these scams. In the Village of Manchester alone, literally hundreds of thousands of dollars have been lost over the past few years to clever fraudsters who often pose as IRS agents, representatives of legitimate businesses (such as utilities like Consumers Energy, Detroit Edison, AT&T, and Comcast), and more in order to gain enough credibility to get access to their victims’ savings.

Fraudulent investment schemes, bank transaction “errors,” and even cases of outright identity theft are also rampant in the area.

And the losses can be substantial. One victim alone lost nearly $150,000 in 2021, and none of it could be recovered, even though in that case the scammer was possibly known to the victim, according to Sgt. Joel Gebauer from the Manchester Village collaboration of the WCSO.

To try and stem the tide of these criminals in our community, Manchester United Methodist Church and the Manchester Area Senior Citizens are joining to host a Senior Fraud Prevention Workshop, led by Alyshia Dyer, a former Sheriff’s Deputy with the Washtenaw County
Sherriff’s Office and a licensed social worker.

At this workshop, coming up Saturday, June 17, from 10am to noon at the Manchester Area Senior Center, 410 City Rd, Room 108, everyone — seniors and more — can learn how to protect themselves against common frauds and scams.

Protect your financial resources and peace of mind by learning the methods employed by scammers and using a few basic prevention strategies! This workshop will describe various types of fraud, including online and phone scams, and will provide time to practice identifying fraud and for asking questions. For more information, contact the Manchester United Methodist Church at (734) 428-8495 or email Pastor Dillon Burns at dburns@manchesterumchurch.org.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.