Library Will Host Seminar On Protecting Against Consumer Fraud

CHATHAM, NJ—The Library of the Chathams and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs will host a virtual seminar next month on protecting against consumer fraud.

The program, which will be held on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., will be delivered by Melanie Hazim, the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs' Outreach Director.

The seminar will focus on IRS phone scams, in which perpetrators pretend to be federal agents, lottery scams, and other forms of fraud perpetrated via phone, email, text, or in person. One especially nefarious form of fraud is the so-called "grandparent scam."

"Scammers pose as panicked grandchildren in trouble," said the Federal Trade Commission, "calling or sending messages urging you to wire money immediately. They’ll say they need cash to help with an emergency like paying a hospital bill or needing to leave a foreign country. They pull at your heartstrings so they can trick you into sending money before you realize it’s a scam."

You can join the seminar via Zoom here or call in to 646-558-8656 (ID 894 5105 3327).