Mark Your Calendar: Personal Safety Program for Tewksbury Seniors

Session will connect you with local resources and organizations that offer support and assistance with scam prevention

Elder financial exploitation destroys the financial security of millions of older Americans annually, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Just last August, Tewksbury Police reported that two senior citizens were victimized by scams that cost these residents over $45,000. In one case, the scammer stated that the victim’s grandchild was in jail. The other was an overbilling scam, where a criminal asked for personal and financial information, ostensibly to provide a refund.

In response to this crisis, communities across the United States are creating collaborative networks to protect their older residents. The Tewksbury Police Department and the Tewksbury Federal Credit Union have created such a collaborative, joining forces to inform our seniors about the importance of financial security and scam prevention.

Tewksbury seniors are invited to learn how to protect themselves and their savings and enhance their confidence in making financial decisions. Participants will learn of common scams that target seniors, red flags to watch for, safety tips when online and guidance on how seniors can safeguard their finances and assets.

One of the most important things to learn will be why and how seniors can report scams to the appropriate authorities.

Come on down to the Senior Center on Thursday, April 25, at 9:30 a.m. for some breakfast and some very important information. Meet the people who are there to help us get better informed about scammers and keep our money and assets safe and sound — slippers optional.