Portland ‘Scam Jam’ Event Will Help Consumers Protect Themselves from Frauds and Scams

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 11 -- The Oregon Attorney General issued the following news release:

Consumers lose billions of dollars each year to frauds and scams and many of those scammed are older. According to a 2011 survey of fraud victims, 81% of investment fraud victims and 84% of lottery fraud victims were over the age of 55.

To help prevent these and other scams, three Oregon agencies are hosting Scam Jam, an educational program, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

Scam Jam is an educational and entertaining program and is designed to allow the audience to learn about today's scams and schemes, such as Medicare fraud, insurance and investment fraud, online and door-to-door scams, identity theft and other scams that target older consumers.

Speakers include: Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and AARP Washington State Director Doug Shadel, author of Outsmarting the Scam Artist. Participants will also hear a panel of speakers, moderated by Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS), that will address consumer issues such as identity theft, collection agencies, and telemarketing.

The Scam Jam event, sponsored by AARP Oregon, DCBS, and the Oregon Department of Justice, is free but participants must register; go to www.ScamJamOregon.com or call 1-877-926-8300 (toll-free).

In addition to the speakers, there will be resource tables representing Oregon Department of Justice, FTC, FBI, USPS, Elders in Action, Multnomah and Washington County Sheriff Offices, Senior Medical Patrol, Consumer Reports, and Portland Crime Prevention offering even more information about how to be protected from frauds and scams. Participants will also receive free materials and refreshments.

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