Homefield Credit Union to host educational forum on scam prevention
GRAFTON, MA (May 7, 2024) — Responding to the ever-growing trend of financial scams and fraud now estimated by the Federal Trade Commission at more than $10 billion in 2023, Homefield Credit Union will host an educational forum to provide safety information and guidance on ways to recognize scam and fraud attempts, and how to avoid becoming a victim.
The forum will be held in partnership with the Grafton Senior Center on June 6, 2024, starting at 10:30 AM. A luncheon will follow for all attendees. Older adults, their caregivers and family members are all welcome to attend this complimentary community event.
“Senior citizens are most often the targets for financial exploitation,” stated Karl Moisan, President & CEO at Homefield Credit Union. “Preventing financial exploitation from continuing to plague our seniors involves a combination of awareness, education, and supportive measures. As a financial cooperative committed to the education and financial wellbeing of our members and the community, hosting an educational forum helps us all to become more adept at recognizing scams and fraudulent activity, and therefore less likely to fall prey to them.”
Moisan went on to explain the relationship between a credit union and its members, pointing out how credit union employees are in a key position when it comes to spotting suspicious financial activity because they tend to know their members well and are likely to recognize when something is not quite right.
“It’s critical that those who think they have been a victim or a target of fraud, report the crime to law enforcement as quickly as possible,” he said. “Reporting financial fraud, no matter the amount, helps law enforcement, regulators, and government agencies to be more effective at combating these crimes, by safeguarding others from becoming a victim and by pursuing those who are conning innocent folks out of their life savings.”
Homefield Credit Union’s educational forum promises to feature a panel discussion of experts representing the US Secret Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission, AARP Massachusetts, the Grafton Police Department, Homefield Credit Union, and local lawmakers. Questions and comments will also be taken from those in attendance. The discussion will be recorded for airing on Grafton’s Community Television system on a later to-be-announced date.
Seating is limited. Those wishing to attend the complimentary Educational Forum and Luncheon are asked to make a reservation by calling the Grafton Senior Center at (508) 839-9242.
About Homefield Credit Union
Homefield Credit Union (HCU) is a state-chartered financial cooperative headquartered in North Grafton, Massachusetts, with a branch location in Milford, Mass. The credit union was founded in 1966 (as Grafton Suburban Credit Union) and currently has over $170 million in assets and serves more than 9,000 members. Deposits at HCU are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration with excess insurance provided by the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation (MSIC). Product offerings run the full gamut, including consumer and business checking, savings accounts, residential and commercial mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, and business loans and lines of credit. HCU also offers 24-hour ATM service, free telephone banking, and the most advanced technologies in Internet and mobile banking. For more information call 508-839-5493 or visit www.homefieldcu.com.
