Fraudsters, Victims & Billions Lost: An FBI Special Agent's View from the Front Lines

Americans 60 and over reported fraud losses of $3.4 billion last year. The total fraud could be as high as $81.5 billion because victims are often too ashamed to report being “taken.” In this way, fraud schemes don’t just do financial damage; they can also cause psychological and emotional harm that can permanently scar a victim.

Our speaker, FBI Special Agent Ethan Via, sees these fraud schemes up close each day as part of the Elder Fraud Task Force in Western Washington. He has tips to help you protect yourself and your loved ones. What are the red flags? How can you intervene to protect a victim? What is the best way to get help from law enforcement?

During his presentation, he will discuss sweepstakes scams, law enforcement impersonation scams, romance scams, phony contractor frauds, “pig butchering,” and even fortune teller fraud. All of these have happened here in Western Washington, with fraudsters leaving devastation in their wake.

Come get your questions answered and learn more about how federal prosecutors and agents investigate these scams and bring the perpetrators to justice!

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common fraud schemes and recognize key warning signs and red flags.
• Explain how fraudsters use impersonation, relationships, and other tactics to gain a victim’s trust.
• Recognize situations where intervention may help protect an individual from becoming or continuing to be a victim of fraud.
• Identify appropriate steps to take when fraud is suspected, including when and how to seek assistance from law enforcement.
• Describe how federal law enforcement investigates fraud schemes and works to bring perpetrators to justice.