BOYERTOWN PA – A seminar intended to help the public recognize and prevent frauds and scam attempts is scheduled for March 20 (2025; Thursday) in Boyertown.
24th District state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick will conduct what’s described as a “Scam Jam” event. It’s being held in cooperation with several state agencies, the Berks County District Attorney, and Eastern Berks Regional Police.
The free seminar runs from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in The Center at Spring Street of Boyertown Area Multi-Service, 200 Spring St.
Experts from state and local agencies will share insights into the latest scams, and red flags to watch for. They also will offer practical steps to safeguard personal and financial information. Providing advice in part are representatives of the state Department of Banking & Securities, Office of Attorney General, and AARP Pennsylvania.
Those who attend “will gain first-hand knowledge from fraud prevention professionals and leave with tools to guard against common scams,” Pennycuick says. They include identity theft, phishing schemes, and financial fraud,”
The senator serves as chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. She reports that “rapidly evolving technology is being exploited by scammers” who are getting smarter. “With technology playing a bigger role in fraud schemes, it’s more important than ever to understand how scammers operate and how to protect yourself.”
Advance registration is requested. Those planning to attend should reserve seats by calling the senator’s office at 215-541-2388, or sign up online.
An Added Warning from Pennsylvania
The “Scam & Fraud Alerts” webpage hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has issued a new warning of which area residents also should be aware.
“Unfortunately,” the department says, “due to the end of Congressional authorization, benefits stolen via card skimming, fraud, or other electronic theft after Dec. 20, 2024, cannot be reissued.”
If your benefits are stolen electronically, the department adds, make sure to:
- Report it to your local law enforcement agency;
- Request a replacement EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) ACCESS card by contacting the EBT Recipient Hotline at 1-888-328-7366, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; OR from your local county assistance office (find it online, here); and
- Find immediate food assistance by calling 2-1-1, visiting the 2-1-1 website, or using the state’s online navigator for community health and social care services.
Photo by Giovanni Gagliardi on Unsplash, used by Travels With The Post under license
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