Human nature hasn't basically changed. People have been defrauding the elderly since Jacob impersonated his brother Esau to get his blind father Issac's blessing.
What's different now is the tools are so much more sophisticated. If you want the full scope of what you need to look out for, the Senior Scam Jam will be Wednesday, Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Idaho Falls Hotel on the River, formerly the Red Lion and once upon a time The Westbank.
Scam Jam is designed to be an educational and entertaining forum that covers all he bases. From the Senior Medicare Patrol Program you will learn how to protect yourself from exploitation and the machinations of those who would seek to rob you with a few keystrokes on a computer.
The opening welcome and keynote address will be at 9 a.m. from Bill Deal, director of the Idaho Department of Insurance. There will be workshops in the morning and afternoon, free lunch from noon to 1 p.m. and a drawing for prizes at the end of the day.
Registration is required and the deadline is this Friday. Call (877) 926-8300 or visit this link: aarp.cvent.com/ID_ScamJamIdahoFalls, where a full agenda is also available.
The event is being sponsored by the Snake River Better Business Bureau, Idaho Department of Finance, Idaho Department of Insurance, Personal Finance Educators from the University of Idaho, OOA Adult Protection, Idaho Legal Aid, Senior Health Insurance Benefit Advisors, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, AARP, the Idaho Commission on Aging, and the Boise State Center for the Study of Aging.