As holiday shopping accelerates across North Texas, so do attempts by scammers to prey on seniors, online shoppers, and anyone distracted by the rush of the season. That message was at the center of a community workshop held Friday, where Chase Bank and the Dallas Police Department sat down with South Dallas elders to break down how modern scams work \u2014 and why so many people, including financial professionals, still fall for them.<\/p>\n
The session, held at a local Chase branch, was part educational, part intervention. Fraud cases in Texas surpassed $920 million in reported losses last year, and experts say the true number is likely much higher because many victims feel too embarrassed to speak up.<\/p>\n
Chase community banker Omar Monsivais, who led much of the discussion, began by asking seniors how they personally define fraud.<\/p>\n
\u201cFraud is criminal deception meant to take your money or your identity,\u201d he explained after attendees offered their definitions. \u201cScams are just another form of that \u2014 a trick designed to cheat you out of something, usually money.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that scams don\u2019t discriminate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get scam attempts all the time \u2014 and I work at a bank,\u201d he admitted. \u201cYoung, older, rich, poor\u2026 it doesn\u2019t matter. We\u2019re all vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Surge in Cases \u2014 and Many Victims Staying Silent<\/p>\n
During the workshop, Omar walked attendees through national and statewide statistics. Reported losses from scams hit more than $12.5 billion in 2024, and complaints to federal agencies increased by 88% over the last three years.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s only what\u2019s reported,\u201d he emphasized. \u201cThink of all the people who never tell anyone because they feel ashamed. That means the problem is even worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
The most common scam type last year? Phishing \u2014 fake texts, emails, or calls impersonating legitimate institutions like banks, delivery companies, or government agencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey Are Targeting You\u201d \u2014 Dallas Police Sound the Alarm<\/p>\n
Dallas Police officers at the event told residents that scammers today operate with frightening precision.<\/p>\n
Using public records, social media, and leaked data, criminals can now craft messages that appear completely legitimate \u2014 right down to your correct address, relatives\u2019 names, and account details.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstand this \u2014 they are targeting you,\u201d one DPD officer said. \u201cThey know you\u2019re law-abiding, they know you don\u2019t want trouble, and they use that fear to pressure you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer reminded the room that no law enforcement agency calls people about warrants or asks for money over the phone.<\/p>\n
Even the Experts Almost Get Scammed<\/p>\n
One of the most eye-opening moments came when Monique Winfree, Vice President, Fort Worth Community Manager, shared a personal story. Despite teaching anti-fraud workshops nationwide, she said she recently came close to being fooled by a caller claiming she had missed jury duty.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had the real address for the sheriff\u2019s office,\u201d she recounted. \u201cHe told me to stay on the phone so I wouldn\u2019t get pulled over. And for a moment, I believed him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The caller told her she needed to pay $1,000 to avoid arrest, or at least $500 at a kiosk.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was actually at a Chase ATM about to withdraw the money,\u201d she admitted. \u201cThen he said I could pay it at a Walmart kiosk, and that\u2019s when it hit me \u2014 this is a scam.\u201d<\/p>\n
She hung up, but her point was blunt:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t an \u2018elder scam.\u2019 This is a whoever-answers-the-phone scam. If I can almost fall for it, anyone can.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also described a second incident involving her husband, who paid a fake North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) bill after scammers spoofed the agency\u2019s website \u2014 logo, colors, layout and all.<\/p>\n
Organization Is a Defense Strategy<\/p>\n
Omar urged seniors to protect themselves by starting with something simple: get organized.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf your documents are all over the house \u2014 kitchen drawer, back room, on the table \u2014 you won\u2019t notice when something\u2019s missing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Important paperwork such as bank statements, insurance policies, wills, and identification cards should be kept in one secure place. Regular check-ins help people spot unusual mail or missing documents that could signal identity theft.<\/p>\n
On passwords, Omar warned that writing them down in obvious places \u2014 like taping them to a phone case or leaving them near a computer \u2014 is a major risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you absolutely must write them down, hide them somewhere only you know,\u201d he said. \u201cNot in your phone case, not in your purse.\u201d<\/p>\n
He encouraged attendees to change their passwords at least yearly and avoid simple combinations (\u201cpassword123,\u201d \u201c1111,\u201d birthdays, etc.).<\/p>\n
Holiday Delivery Scams on the Rise<\/p>\n
Seniors at the workshop said they\u2019re inundated with text messages about supposed package delays. Omar confirmed those texts are among the most widespread scams during the holiday season.<\/p>\n
He shared a story about his own daughter, who bought a sweatshirt from an Instagram ad. When she received a text about a \u201cdelayed delivery,\u201d she clicked the link and entered personal information.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe got hit from both sides,\u201d he said. \u201cFirst the fake online store, then the fake delivery text. If she hadn\u2019t told me, they could have emptied her account.\u201d<\/p>\n
They immediately locked her card and contacted the bank, preventing any fraudulent transactions.<\/p>\n
Why the Holiday Season Is Prime Time for Criminals<\/p>\n
Scammers, the instructors emphasized, ramp up aggressively in November and December.<\/p>\n
People are traveling, buying gifts, clicking ads, sending Zelle payments, and rushing through crowded inboxes \u2014 and scammers exploit that vulnerability.<\/p>\n
They also advised residents to avoid sending money via Zelle, wire transfer, or Bitcoin to unknown people. Credit and debit cards offer purchase protection; these other methods do not.<\/p>\n
Community Tools and Resources<\/p>\n
The session ended with reminders:<\/p>\n
Never click unsolicited links.<\/p>\n
Verify all calls by hanging up and calling the official agency number.<\/p>\n
Build a relationship with your banker \u2014 so you have someone to check suspicious activity with.<\/p>\n
Report scams to Dallas Police even if you didn\u2019t lose money.<\/p>\n
Use bank alerts to monitor unusual account behavior.<\/p>\n
For additional resources, Chase encouraged residents to visit chase.com\/scamspotting, available in both English and Spanish.<\/p>\n
The workshop closed with a round of questions, laughter, and shared relief among attendees who said they felt more confident heading into the holiday season \u2014 and less likely to fall for tricks designed to exploit their trust.<\/p>\n
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