‘Scam Jam’ Fraud Summit to meet Wednesday

HUNTSVILLE – “Scam Jam,” a fraud summit for Madison County residents, will convene on Oct. 30 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Huntsville Marriott.

(Contributed)

To present this event, Better Business Bureau of North Alabama is collaborating with Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG), Seniors & Law Enforcement Together (SALT) and Prevention of Elder Abuse and Criminal Exploitation (PEACE).

Seating is limited to the first 200 registrants. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m.

“Fraud seems to be growing at a tremendous rate, especially as new technologies develop each day, so the best defense is staying aware of the latest schemes,” BBB president Michele Mason said.

The Fraud Summit “is designed to provide individuals with the tools they need to identify current types of fraud and the best ways to protect themselves from falling victim,” Mason said.

Staged in panel format, the summit will include guest speakers from the Alabama Securities Commission, Alabama Attorney General’s office, BBB, TARCOG and Senior Medicare Patrol programs. In addition, representatives from the Huntsville and Madison police departments and Madison County Sheriff’s Department will participate.

Topics for discussion will include investment fraud, Medicare fraud, top scams of the year, home improvement schemes, schemes for working at home, sweepstakes and lotteries offers and more. “Attendees also will have the opportunity to ask their own questions of the experts,” Mason said.

The event is free. Organizers will serve snacks and drinks. A grant from the Investor Protection Trust is funding the summit (investorprotection.org).

To register, call the BBB at 256-533-1640, ext. 0, email to info@northalabama.bbb.org or register online at northalabama.bbb.org/fraudsummit2013.