Learning how to identify and report scams By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

information on scams.

In recent years, especially following the coronavirus lockdown, the county has reported increasing numbers of seniors targeted by phone and internet scams, according to McKevitt.

T

Scams of all varieties have found their way into the lives of many people, most notably seniors. Dozens of people gathered at the East Meadow Public Library on Aug. 9 to learn more about identifying scams, how to report being a victim of fraudulent activity, and how to seek reimbursement of money lost to a scam.

County Legislators Tom McKevitt and John Ferretti presented a seminar called “How to Avoid Scams,” alongside the Nassau Police Department’s Community Affairs office, the county’s Crime Victim Advocate office and the Office for the Aging, and the Family & Children’s Association.

The FCA is a nonprofit based in Garden City that offers a range of support services to vulnerable children, families, seniors and communities on Long Island. Its financial assistance branch offers he scammers today are very sophisticated, and they’re businesslike.“Covid changed the world in many ways, particularly (for) seniors, people who previously may not have used the internet before, may not have used cellphones much before,” McKevitt said. “Now those criminals who are able to go hide behind the anonymity, instead of going to their front door, they’re able to do it behind the scenes, and seniors have more contact through those mechanisms than they did preCovid.”

Manda Kristal, of the Family & Children’s Association told the crowd that scammers either scare victims by convincing that a family member is in trouble, or excite them by leading them to believe that they are the recipient of a prize or

CoNTiNuED