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Woodbury, MN. — Ideal Credit Union is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Commerce on a new Safe Seniors workshop series. The workshops aim to build critical awareness of the growing problem of financial scams and fraud targeting senior citizens. “Ideal Credit Union is dedicated to helping our members and the community understand how scammers operate and how quickly people can feel pressured into sending money or information into criminal hands,” said Alisha Johnson, Chief Growth Officer, Ideal Credit Union. “Ideal’s Safe Senior workshops are a great investment in building understanding and awareness to identify and prevent fraud for yourself or a loved one.” While fraud can happen to anyone, experts say being aware of how scammers operate makes you 80% less likely to become a victim. The most common financial scams reported to the FBI last year were investment, romance, and tech support scams. Scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older in the United States caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023—an increase of approximately 11% from the year prior. Ideal Credit Union’s Safe Seniors Workshop Series with the Minnesota Department of Commerce offers three opportunities to attend a virtual workshop with Minnesota experts. During the event, attendees will learn about the current fraud landscape and simple ways to protect themselves. Ideal Credit Union Safe Seniors Workshop #1 Cyber Security Awareness When: Thursday, October 17th from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Connect: To attend the session, sign up on Ideal Credit Union’s education page and you’ll be sent the workshop link. Expert Speaker: Marty Fleischhacker, Senior Financial Fraud Ombudsman at Minnesota Department of Commerce. What You’ll Learn: In this workshop we’ll share the common types of fraud and scams, who is targeted and the scope of the problem. Plus, we’ll share the key tips to avoiding becoming a victim and how you can help report fraud. Ideal Credit Union Safe Seniors Workshop #2 Elder Abuse and Senior Exploitation in Minnesota When: Thursday, November 14th from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Connect: To attend the session, sign up on Ideal Credit Union’s education page and you’ll be sent the workshop link. Expert Speaker: Lisa Lovering, Senior Financial Exploitation Investigator with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Prior Chief Deputy with Isanti County Sherriff’s Office. What You’ll Learn: In this workshop, we’ll share how romance and financial scams are targeting Minnesota seniors. How the scams begin and why people fall victim. The signs to look out for online and from someone who might be falling victim. We’ll share the protections in place through Minnesota Department of Commerce. Ideal Credit Union Safe Seniors Workshop #3 Financial Fraud and How to Protect Yourself When: Thursday, December 12th 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Where: Attend in person or virtually for this session. Ideal Credit Union | 8499 Tamarack Road | Woodbury, MN Connect: To attend virtually, sign up on Ideal Credit Union’s education page and you’ll be sent the workshop link. Expert Speaker: Boima Freeman, Senior Financial Fraud Investigator, Minnesota Department of Commerce. What You’ll Learn: In this workshop you’ll learn about the wide variety of fraud from identify theft to credit card fraud and phishing. Some of the most well-known forms and simple forms of fraud can seemingly be the most difficult to detect. We’ll also discuss invoice and payroll fraud and how organizations can safeguard their finances. The Minnesota Department of Commerce partners with financial professionals to prevent fraud and exploitation. The Safe Seniors Financial Protection Act provides tools to identify and report cases of financial abuse of seniors and vulnerable adults. About Ideal Credit Union Founded in 1926, Ideal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution that is dedicated to providing financial services driven by a sincere and personal interest in the needs of our employees, members, and community. Ideal CU offers a complete range of services, including a full suite of digital banking products, savings, checking, loans, mortgage products, business services, SBA loans and more. Ideal was voted “2023 Best in State Credit Union” by Forbes, 2023 Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal “Best Places to Work”, and “Best Credit Union” five years and counting by readers of the Stillwater Gazette. Ideal Credit Union offers a robust online presence and has offices in Eagan, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, North St. Paul, Stillwater, and Woodbury. Visit idealcu.com for details and directions.
Woodbury, MN. — Ideal Credit Union is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Commerce on a new Safe Seniors workshop series. The workshops aim to build critical awareness of the growing problem of financial scams and fraud targeting senior citizens.
“Ideal Credit Union is dedicated to helping our members and the community understand how scammers operate and how quickly people can feel pressured into sending money or information into criminal hands,” said Alisha Johnson, Chief Growth Officer, Ideal Credit Union. “Ideal’s Safe Senior workshops are a great investment in building understanding and awareness to identify and prevent fraud for yourself or a loved one.”
While fraud can happen to anyone, experts say being aware of how scammers operate makes you 80% less likely to become a victim. The most common financial scams reported to the FBI last year were investment, romance, and tech support scams. Scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older in the United States caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023—an increase of approximately 11% from the year prior.
Ideal Credit Union’s Safe Seniors Workshop Series with the Minnesota Department of Commerce offers three opportunities to attend a virtual workshop with Minnesota experts. During the event, attendees will learn about the current fraud landscape and simple ways to protect themselves.
Ideal Credit Union Safe Seniors Workshop #1 Cyber Security Awareness
When: Thursday, October 17th from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Connect: To attend the session, sign up on Ideal Credit Union’s education page and you’ll be sent the workshop link.
Expert Speaker: Marty Fleischhacker, Senior Financial Fraud Ombudsman at Minnesota Department of Commerce.
What You’ll Learn: In this workshop we’ll share the common types of fraud and scams, who is targeted and the scope of the problem. Plus, we’ll share the key tips to avoiding becoming a victim and how you can help report fraud.
Ideal Credit Union Safe Seniors Workshop #2 Elder Abuse and Senior Exploitation in Minnesota
When: Thursday, November 14th from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Connect: To attend the session, sign up on Ideal Credit Union’s education page and you’ll be sent the workshop link.
Expert Speaker: Lisa Lovering, Senior Financial Exploitation Investigator with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Prior Chief Deputy with Isanti County Sherriff’s Office.
What You’ll Learn: In this workshop, we’ll share how romance and financial scams are targeting Minnesota seniors. How the scams begin and why people fall victim. The signs to look out for online and from someone who might be falling victim. We’ll share the protections in place through Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Ideal Credit Union Safe Seniors Workshop #3 Financial Fraud and How to Protect Yourself
When: Thursday, December 12th 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: Attend in person or virtually for this session.
Ideal Credit Union | 8499 Tamarack Road | Woodbury, MN
Connect: To attend virtually, sign up on Ideal Credit Union’s education page and you’ll be sent the workshop link.
Expert Speaker: Boima Freeman, Senior Financial Fraud Investigator, Minnesota Department of Commerce.
What You’ll Learn: In this workshop you’ll learn about the wide variety of fraud from identify theft to credit card fraud and phishing. Some of the most well-known forms and simple forms of fraud can seemingly be the most difficult to detect. We’ll also discuss invoice and payroll fraud and how organizations can safeguard their finances.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce partners with financial professionals to prevent fraud and exploitation. The Safe Seniors Financial Protection Act provides tools to identify and report cases of financial abuse of seniors and vulnerable adults.
About Ideal Credit Union
Founded in 1926, Ideal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution that is dedicated to providing financial services driven by a sincere and personal interest in the needs of our employees, members, and community. Ideal CU offers a complete range of services, including a full suite of digital banking products, savings, checking, loans, mortgage products, business services, SBA loans and more.
Ideal was voted “2023 Best in State Credit Union” by Forbes, 2023 Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal “Best Places to Work”, and “Best Credit Union” five years and counting by readers of the Stillwater Gazette. Ideal Credit Union offers a robust online presence and has offices in Eagan, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, North St. Paul, Stillwater, and Woodbury. Visit idealcu.com for details and directions.