{"id":137877,"date":"2026-01-17T16:16:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T16:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/137877\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T16:16:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T16:16:10","slug":"free-elder-fraud-prevention-at-fullerton-community-center-january-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/137877\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Elder Fraud Prevention at Fullerton Community Center January 23"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As elder fraud continues to escalate nationwide, the\u00a0San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF)\u00a0is significantly expanding its Elder Fraud Prevention education efforts\u00a0across\u00a0San Diego County, Orange County, and Los Angeles County, supported by a transformational gift of more than $200,000 from\u00a0the\u00a0Wells Fargo\u00a0Foundation.<\/p>\n

Federal data shows that older adults lose billions of dollars each year to fraud, with losses and victim counts rising sharply as scams become more sophisticated, more targeted, and harder to detect. Investment scams, impersonation schemes, and technology-driven fraud now account for the largest financial losses among older adults.<\/p>\n

With\u00a0support from\u00a0the\u00a0Wells Fargo\u00a0Foundation, SDSCF has delivered\u00a0dozens of in-person\u00a0and virtual elder fraud prevention events, reaching\u00a0thousands of seniors, caregivers, and families\u00a0throughout Southern California. This expanded funding enables SDSCF to deepen its reach, expand into new communities, and increase the frequency of education-based prevention programming.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis\u00a0Wells Fargo\u00a0Foundation\u00a0grant\u00a0allows us to scale what we know works: education,\u201d said\u00a0Kristoffer Kelly, Director of Partnerships at the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation. \u201cThe most effective way to combat elder fraud is not after the fact but before it happens. By educating seniors and their families, we are preventing devastating financial and emotional losses and helping people stay independent and secure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scammers Are Using AI and Advanced Technology<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s scams are increasingly powered by\u00a0artificial intelligence, voice cloning, spoofed phone numbers, and highly convincing emails and text messages.\u00a0Criminals can now impersonate family members, financial institutions, attorneys, and government agencies with alarming accuracy, often creating a sense of urgency designed to override caution.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese scams are no longer obvious,\u201d said\u00a0Paul Downey, Chief Advocacy Officer at the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing lawyers, doctors, pilots, business owners \u2014 highly educated,\u00a0experienced professionals \u2014 fall victim. AI has fundamentally changed the landscape. Anyone can be scammed if the message hits at the right moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Education as the First Line of Defense<\/p>\n

SDSCF\u2019s Elder Fraud Prevention program is built on a simple principle:\u00a0education saves people from becoming victims. Through community workshops, webinars, and on-site trainings, participants learn how to recognize red flags, pause before acting, and report suspicious activity. This work is supported through close partnerships with\u00a0local District Attorney offices, the\u00a0United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the\u00a0FBI Citizens Academy, as well as SDSCF\u2019s active participation in the\u00a0Elder Fraud Task Force, helping align education efforts across agencies and regions.<\/p>\n

In doing so, the Foundation\u00a0continues to\u00a0reinforce the San Diego County District Attorney\u2019s Elder Scam Prevention message:<\/p>\n

\u201cStop. Hang Up. Tell Someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFraud thrives on fear, urgency, and isolation,\u201d Downey added. \u201cWhen people slow down, disconnect, and talk to someone they trust, many scams end immediately. Education gives seniors permission to pause.\u201d<\/p>\n

Upcoming Elder Fraud Prevention Events<\/p>\n

The public is encouraged to attend, bring an older adult, or inquire about hosting a session.<\/p>\n

Orange County<\/p>\n

January 23, 2026 | 11:30 AM \u2013 1:30 PM at Fullerton Community Center, 340 W Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832
\nFebruary 27, 2026 | 12:00 PM \u2013 2:30 PM at Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 Crescent Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801
\nAdditional events are being scheduled in\u00a0Santa Ana and Brea, along with webinars.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles County<\/p>\n

March 2026\u00a0\u2013 In-person event with Pasadena Village
\nMay 2026\u00a0\u2013 Webinar with Pasadena Village
\nMay 16, 2026 | 9:00 AM \u2013 12:00 PM\u2013One Generation, 17400 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91406<\/p>\n

San Diego County<\/p>\n

Ongoing cybersecurity and technology safety classes at 12 senior center sites
\nContinued in-person workshops and webinars throughout the year<\/p>\n

Register or Host an Event<\/p>\n

All events are free and open to\u00a0seniors, caregivers, families, and community organizations. Senior centers, housing providers, faith communities, and civic groups interested in\u00a0hosting an Elder Fraud Prevention sessionare encouraged to reach out.<\/p>\n

To register for an event near you or request a hosted session, visit: https:\/\/sdscf.org\/elder-fraud\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0###<\/p>\n

About San Diego Seniors Community Foundation<\/p>\n

The\u00a0San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF)\u00a0is the\u00a0first community foundation in the United States dedicated exclusively to seniors. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SDSCF works to strengthen the physical, mental, financial, and social well-being of older adults by addressing the most urgent challenges facing an aging population.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Through education, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, SDSCF focuses on preventing elder fraud, combating senior isolation, supporting healthy aging, and building the infrastructure seniors need to live safely, independently, and with dignity. The Foundation brings together community leaders, service providers, public agencies, and philanthropists to ensure every senior has access to trusted resources, meaningful connection, and someone they can turn to.<\/p>\n

SDSCF is committed to reimagining how communities support aging, not just extending lifespan, but protecting quality of life for all seniors, today and for generations to come. www.sdscf.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like this:<\/p>\n

Like Loading…<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

\tDiscover more from Fullerton Observer<\/p>\n

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As elder fraud continues to escalate nationwide, the\u00a0San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF)\u00a0is significantly expanding its Elder Fraud…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":137878,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,165,164,69986,69987],"class_list":["post-137877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-anaheim","tag-anaheim","tag-anaheim-headlines","tag-anaheim-news","tag-elder-fraud-prevention-at-fullerton-community-center-january-23","tag-protecting-our-elders-wells-fargo-foundations-200000-grant-boosts-elder-fraud-prevention-across-southern-california"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137877"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137877\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}