Free Shredding at AARP Virginia Scam Jam in Richmond - Oct. 24

Free Shredding at AARP Virginia Scam Jam in Richmond

Speakers from the FBI, Attorney General’s Office and more will provide tips on avoiding fraud

RICHMOND, Va. — To empower people 50 and older to protect themselves against fraud, AARP Virginia is hosting a free community Scam Jam event from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Annie Marie Giles Community Resource and Training Center, 1400 Oliver Hill Way, Richmond, VA 23219. A shred truck will be on site from 12 – 2 p.m. for free destruction of personal documents.

Attendees will learn the red flags to spot scams and protect themselves and their families from scammers’ tactics, the steps to report fraud that helps warn others and more.

FBI Intelligence Analyst Heather Harris will be among the speakers providing information about how attendees can spot cyber fraud and protect themselves. Harris is a 27-year veteran of the agency. She has worked on multiple National Security and criminal threats including counterintelligence, gangs/violent crimes, complex financial crimes and health care fraud.

Benjamin Bickel, community liaison office for the Virginia Office of Attorney General, will address scams aimed at older Virginians. Bickel supports and promotes programs the office provides to the Commonwealth. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s office, Bickel was a session aide for the Virginia House of Delegates.

U.S. Postal Service Inspector Derwin Kinston will speak about mail fraud schemes. Postal Inspectors are law enforcement officers who investigate crimes involving the mail. These crimes include mail theft, mail fraud, financial fraud, identity theft, robberies and burglaries of postal facilities, assaults and threats on postal employees, investigations of dangerous and prohibited mails, narcotics, cybercrime and more.

Shawn Smith, state director for Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), will give attendees pointers on how to recognize and report Medicare fraud. SMP is a Medicare advocacy program focused on educating and supporting seniors in preventing, detecting, and reporting health care fraud, errors, and abuse. Smith leads a team of more than a hundred paid and volunteer staff in providing services statewide through partnerships with the state’s 25 local area agencies on aging. His work with the SMP led him to author 101 Fraud Tips, an economic empowerment resource designed to help seniors protect their assets and identity from scammers. 

A light breakfast and lunch to go will be provided. The event is free, registration is required, and space is limited. or call 1-877-926-8300.

All food, materials and resources will be provided free to participants.  All participants must register at https://events.aarp.org/RSJ1024.

AARP is the largest organization working on behalf of people age 50+ and their families in the Commonwealth. To learn more about AARP Virginia, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aarpvirginia and follow @AARPVa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aarpva. Find AARP events near you at https://www.aarp.org/nearme.

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest-circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.