SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Senior Center will be holding an event focusing on identity theft on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The event is a presentation titled, “Identity Theft: Facts, Risks, and Action!
Milagros S. Johnson, Director of the Springfield Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information. (Photo courtesy City of Springfield)
Free and open to the public, Milagros Johnson will be the guest speaker. Johnson has worked the past 17 years in the City of Springfield Mayor’s Office Department of Consumer Information and has made connections with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and other agencies in the area to help track down scams.
This informational presentation gives senior citizens an opportunity to learn how technology and other mechanisms are used for scams. Southwick Senior Center personnel wants to make sure that seniors are aware of all scams that could come their way.
Southwick Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan. (WNG file photo)
“I think it’s good to give information to people,” said Southwick Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan. “I think scams are getting more sophisticated.”
Just last week, the Southwick Police Department posted on their social media page that senior citizens in town had been receiving calls from scam artists claiming to be Medicaid. After the reports were sent out, Sullivan sent an automated message to all 682 members of the senior center to aware them of the latest scam.
“Trying to get the word out is so crucial,” said Sullivan. “They were thankful for the information.”
According to Sullivan, there are about 20 people signed up for the presentation on Tuesday. Interested individuals can sign up by calling the senior center at 413-569-5498, but people can also walk in at the time of the event and seating will be available.
