YEAR. FEDERAL RECORDS SHOW HE REMAINS IN FEDERAL CUSTODY RIGHT NOW, WELL, TODAY, SEVERAL STATE LEADERS HELD A TOWN HALL TO HELP SENIORS RECOGNIZE SCAMS. LAST YEAR, PENNSYLVANIANS LOST ABOUT $2.9 BILLION TO ONLINE SCAMS, AND STATE LAWMAKERS BELIEVE, AS TECHNOLOGY KEEPS ADVANCING, THESE TYPES OF SCAMS WILL BECOME EVEN MORE PREVALENT. SO TECHNOLOGY IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO KIND OF REGULATE, AND WE’RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN ON THAT FRONT. THE BEST THING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IS TO BE SMART ABOUT THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE. DON’T MAKE EMOTIONAL DECISIONS. TAKE TAKE TIME TO THINK THROUGH THESE THINGS AND SEE IF. SEE IF THEY’RE LEGITIMATE. AND REALLY, THAT WAS THE MAIN ADVICE FOR SENIORS. TAKE SOME TIME AND THINK BEFORE ACTING AND NEVER HAND OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION. MANY SCAMMERS ALSO TRY TO USE GOVERNMENT LOGOS IN THEIR SCHEMES.
‘Stop the Scam’ town hall raises awareness for Pittsburgh-area seniors
Updated: 5:53 PM EDT Apr 9, 2026
Several Pennsylvania lawmakers held a town hall Thursday in Pittsburgh to help seniors recognize scams.The Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans says residents lost $2.9 billion to online fraud last year.State lawmakers believe that as technology advances, these types of scams will become even more prevalent.”Technology is getting harder and harder to kind of regulate, and we’re doing the best we can on that front,” Sen. Nick Pisciottano said. “The best thing that people can do to protect themselves is to be smart about the decisions they make. Don’t make emotional decisions. Take time to think through these things and see if they’re legitimate.”The main advice for seniors was to take time to think before acting and to never hand out personal information.Scammers often use government logos in their schemes, but legitimate agencies will never demand immediate payment or threaten arrest.The town hall was held at the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers building in the South Side.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Several Pennsylvania lawmakers held a town hall Thursday in Pittsburgh to help seniors recognize scams.
The Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans says residents lost $2.9 billion to online fraud last year.
State lawmakers believe that as technology advances, these types of scams will become even more prevalent.
“Technology is getting harder and harder to kind of regulate, and we’re doing the best we can on that front,” Sen. Nick Pisciottano said. “The best thing that people can do to protect themselves is to be smart about the decisions they make. Don’t make emotional decisions. Take time to think through these things and see if they’re legitimate.”
The main advice for seniors was to take time to think before acting and to never hand out personal information.
Scammers often use government logos in their schemes, but legitimate agencies will never demand immediate payment or threaten arrest.
The town hall was held at the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers building in the South Side.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.