Manhattan-New Lenox TRIAD June Presentation "Computer and Banking Safety - How to Prevent Fraud"

The Manhattan-New Lenox TRIAD would like to invite all senior citizens (age fifty and up) from the area to attend the monthly meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 1:30pm, at the New Lenox Village Police Department  Training  Room, located at 701 West Haven Avenue in New Lenox.

No registration or membership is required to attend TRIAD meetings.   The Manhattan-New Lenox TRIAD meetings are on the fourth Thursday of each month at 1:30pm at New Lenox Police Department Training Room. TRIAD meetings are for all senior citizens in and around our community area.

For the month of June we are excited to announce that a representative from the Secret Service will be speaking to our audience regarding “Computer and Banking Safety- How to Prevent Fraud”.  Financial criminals often target the elderly for multiple reasons, including their availability, isolation, loneliness, sickness, and in many cases, their prosperity.

Imagine this:   Your phone rings.   When you answer the phone, it is a nice sounding gentleman or young woman; they introduce themselves as an agent from your banking institution or maybe your health insurance company.  Next you are informed that they are calling you to update your personal information.  Without even thinking you give him your banking account number, your birth-date, address, phone number, your mother’s maiden name and most importantly your social security number. 

Imagine another scenario.  You open your email and receive a similar request from your credit card company or someone is notifying you of a huge cash prize you have won.   The only thing they need is your personal information.   You see the word “URGENT” and everything looks authentic and official.   Without thinking you give them the information they desire. 

What happens next?  A large amount of money is withdrawn from your bank account for something you never authorized.  In instances where you have been scammed please call the local police immediately and file a report with them. 

Financial fraud can also show up in your mail. You will get authentic looking requests from trusted and well-known companies or organizations looking for your personal information.  Don’t give it to them.   Hang up.   Delete the e-mail, destroy the mail.   You may also want to call the business institution that was fraudulently represented and let them know what happened to you.  Definitely call the local police and make a report to them.

Learn how to protect yourself from these types of financial frauds.   The top scams that con artists employ against senior citizens are marketing through the Internet, by phone or by mail, fake charities, sweepstakes, health-care fraud, identify theft and financial exploitation, including online invest and securities fraud. 

New Lenox Community Television will be there to video-tape and air the presentation on Channel Six, our New Lenox Community Television channel.   So if you cannot make the meeting, please check out the Channel Six scheduling for date and time of airing..  

The Will County TRIAD for Senior Citizens is run by Sheriff Paul Kaupas and the Will County Sheriff’s Police.    TRIAD means a three-way commitment among local and county law enforcement and senior citizens.  They agree to work together to reduce the criminal victimization of the elderly and enhance the delivery of law enforcement services to older persons.    A major purpose of TRIAD is to develop, expand and implement effective crime prevention and education programs for senior citizens in our community. 

What and who is TRIAD of Will County and TRIAD of Manhattan-New Lenox? 

• TRIAD is cooperation between law enforcement agencies and senior citizens.
• TRIAD strives to reduce criminal victimization of older persons
• TRIAD assesses the needs and concerns of older citizens.
• TRIAD leads to a broad dialogue on safety and security issues
• TRIAD is the link with elderly members of the community

The Manhattan-New Lenox TRIAD has added representatives from the New Lenox Fire District, the Manhattan Police and Manhattan Fire Department, the New Lenox Park District, New Lenox Public Library, New Lenox Community Television Channel, New Lenox Township Offices to inform and empower the senior citizens of our community by providing information regarding their health and safety.

If you feel you have been a victim of fraud or financial exploitation, please call the New Lenox Police Department request to file a report with an officer at 815-462-6100.  If you have any questions regarding this month’s presentation or joining TRIAD, please call New Lenox Township, 815-485-6431, ask for Kathie.