Learn defenses at TARCOG’s Fraud & Scam Summit on Aug. 20

MADISON COUNTY – Elderly citizens are facing an increase in fraud from criminals who target their demographic. This fraudulent activity has resulted in approximately $5 billion in financial losses throughout the United States in 2024.

To confront this threat, TARCOG employees want to help the community learn about the most common scams and ways to outsmart fraudsters. The Senior Medicare Patrol Fraud & Scam Summit 2025 will focus on reducing scams.

The TARCOG acronym represents ‘Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments’ that assists residents in Dekalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties.

TARCOG’s Fraud & Scam Summit on Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be held in the Sandridge Ballroom at Athens State University, 300 N. Beaty St. in Athens. This event is free to the public; however, pre-registration is required.

The Fraud & Scan Summit will feature exhibitors from state programs, community partners, nonprofit and community organizations and area businesses in attendance to share educational information and valuable resources to attendees.

More In 2024, a total of $4.885 billion in losses resulted from 147,127 complaints of financial scams targeting seniors across the United States, according to data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. These losses represent a 46-percent increase in complaints from 2023, along with a 43-percent increase in losses.

The Senior Medicare Patrol or SMP at TARCOG empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report health care fraud, errors and abuse.

The Fraud & Scam Summit will provide an overview of scams and fraud in Alabama with discussion of several topics:

• Ways and practices that allow individuals to recognize and avoid common scams.

• Prevention tips to avoid the threat of identity theft.

• The defensive role that caregivers can use in spotting and reporting fraud.

• Steps to take when indications suggest financial abuse.

• Key contacts and reporting agencies that can provide immediate help to residents.

Information about these national trends is available in the FBI’s 2024 edition of its annual “Elder Fraud Report” that was released in June 2025. The Fraud & Scam Summit will disclose trends in Alabama and in local communities.

To register for the summit, visit tarcog.us. In the “2025 FRAUD & SCAM SUMMIT” box, click “Register.” On the next window, click “Get tickets.”