Protect Yourself: Free educational seminars during ''Older Americans Month''

LANSING, MI-- Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is reminding seniors as part of ''Older Americans Month'' that free educational seminars are available statewide through the Attorney General's Senior Brigade program. The program provides seniors and caregivers with trusted and useful information on residential care facilities and common senior scams. ''Senior citizens are some of Michigan's most vulnerable targets for scam artists and predators,'' said Schuette. ''It is important to educate seniors and their loved ones about how they can protect themselves from scam artists.'' Schuette noted the importance of educating seniors with information to help them with financial and health care decisions. Nationwide, as many as 5,000,000 seniors fall victim to financial abuse each year. The Attorney General's office created the Senior Brigade program in May 2009 as part of the Consumer Protection Division. Since its inception, the office has given 677 presentations, helping more than 16,000 Michigan seniors. Senior Brigade offers six 30-minute seminars on topics ranging from investment fraud to identity theft, including a brand new seminar to educate seniors about online safety. The Attorney General's office offers the following free seminars: * Protect Yourself: Online Safety provides information on how to avoid Internet scams and fraud and offers many helpful online resources; * Protect Yourself: Identity Theft provides valuable information on how to avoid falling victim to the fastest growing crime in America; * Protect Yourself: Phone & Mail Scams reviews common scams initiated over the phone or through mail/email, provides tips on how to reduce incoming phone calls and junk mail and gives instructions to report a problem or scam; * Protect Yourself: Homeowner Scams reviews how to recognize potential repair scams, how to work with a contractor, how to understand reverse mortgages and gives tips to recognize and avoid foreclosure scams; * Protect Yourself: Investment Fraud provides information on ''Free Lunch'' seminars, tips on how to recognize fraudulent investments and tools to help check both the seller and the product before investing your money; and * Protect Your Loved Ones: Residential Care Facilities which prov ides information on how to choose a nursing home, how to recognize and report resident abuse or neglect and gives tips for keeping loved ones safe. Schuette said the Attorney General's office offers the Senior Brigade seminars free of charge. The Consumer Protection Division has representatives with backgrounds in senior advocacy and education who present the Senior Brigade programs at senior centers, community organizations and other venues throughout the state catering to senior advocacy. Attorney General Schuette encourages seniors and caregivers interested in receiving a free in-person Senior Brigade seminar to register online at www.michigan.gov/seniorbrigade or by calling the Attorney General's Office toll free at 877-765-8388. Copyright © 2011 State of Michigan Published: Mon, May 23, 2011