Published: May 07, 2008 05:33 pm            

Fraud and Scam Awareness Seminar set Tuesday

Wabash Valley Home Care and Wabash Senior Citizen Center have gathered together a variety of businesses, churches and individuals to offer an all-day educational seminar to address the issue of seniors being targeted by frauds and scams.

The Fraud and Scam Awareness Seminar for Seniors, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 13 at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds, is being offered at no charge to the speakers, vendors or seniors.

Speakers include Attorney General Steve Carter, keynote speaker; Linda Carmody, president and C.E.O. of the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana; Irene Wegner, AARP; George Ralston, First Financial Bank, former Vigo County chief of police; and a federal Secret Service agent.

This year, participating vendors will go “wild” by decorating their booths and their representative in the theme.

Upon arrival, the seniors will sign in on the travel roster and then be issued complimentary survival gear. Each traveler will receive Safari hats and survival backpacks, which hold their necessary travel supplies such as bottled water, passports and a map. A light breakfast will be served while registration is completed, 8 to 9 a.m., compliments of Baesler’s Market and GFS Marketplace. This will be followed by a walking “safari” with the opportunity to spot giraffes, leopards, springbok, zebra, mountain gorilla, and blue wildebeest among many other types of wildlife.

The Endangered Elderly will be trained this year by Scam Scholars (speakers).

Complimentary Jungle Lunch will be available courtesy of Baesler’s Market and GFS Marketplace. Additional refreshments will be available courtesy of Pepsi-Cola and Dever Distributing.

More than 100 vendors have agreed to meet with the seniors to share information about their services and provide a door prize. The seniors will vote this year for the Ranger guide/Missionary jungle hut they like best and one of the businesses will be crowned, “King of the Jungle!”

Free City bus transportation to/from the Fairgrounds has been arranged. Call (812) 235-0109. Transportation outside city limits in Vigo, Parke and Vermillion counties has been donated Area 7 Agency on Aging. Call (812) 232-2675. Ride Solution has offered free transportation to/from Greene and Sullivan counties. Call 1-877-369-8899. Putnam County Senior Center at (765) 653-8606 has offered free transportation to/from Putnam County; and Clay County Senior Center at (812) 448-2644 has agreed to provide transportation to/from Clay County.

There is no pre-registration this year. Shuttles will be available to take individuals from their cars to the building.

For more information, visit the Web site www.fraudandscam.org.

        

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