Mercy Circle Hosts Free Senior Holiday Safety Class

CHICAGO — Older residents are invited to a free Holiday Safety and Crime Prevention presentation Tuesday, Dec. 5 hosted by Mercy Circle. The presentation starts at 10 a.m. and guests may access complimentary valet parking at the Mercy Circle entrance at 100th Street and Central Park Avenue.

Officers from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office will lead the 90-minute class offering seniors practical tips on how to stay safe during the holidays, avoid credit card and online shopping fraud, secure delivered packages, protecting yourself from cybercrime and more during the holidays. Refreshments will be served during the break.

Learning these strategies is important, especially for older adults. According to the FBI’s 2022 Elder Fraud Report, cybercrime cost older Americans more than $3 billion, an 84-percent increase from 2021. The crime prevention class is being sponsored by Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.

Although the presentation is free, reservations are requested by Friday, Dec. 1, at 19th Ward Mobile Senior Safety or by calling 773-238-8766.