Scam and fraud prevention public seminar in NT

North Tonawanda Mayor Austin J. Tylec announced his office is teaming with the North Tonawanda Police Department to host a scam and fraud prevention seminar. The event will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the North Tonawanda Student Alumni Center, 405 Meadow Drive.

A press release stated, “Identity fraud cost Americans a total of about $56 billion last year, with about 49 million consumers falling victim, affecting all age groups.”

Tylec said, “Our police department has seen an uptick in scam complaints, and there are new methods popping up every day. Some of our residents losing up to $70,000 in scams. That is why we felt this seminar was an important topic to educate the public on a variety of important issues.”

North Tonawanda Police Chief Keith Glass said, “Knowing the red flags of a scam call and when to simply hang up the phone can be the difference between falling victim to a scam artist or not. This seminar will touch on scams that affected residents right here in the City of North Tonawanda, and how to avoid being conned.”

In addition to speakers from the NTPD, participants will also hear from PremCom, the company that manages the city’s internet technology, securing its networks and updating servers. Niagara County Victims Assistance will also be on hand to answer any questions. Attendees will be given information on how to identify scams and protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.