For Immediate Release - Dec 20, 2005

Contact:

Pam Russell DA Public Information 303-271-6905

Re: District Attorney Protects Community with Fraud Prevention Seminars

Thousands of people in the Denver area have had a chance to attend a Power Against Fraud program sponsored by local District Attorneys in 2005.   Metro DA's offices serving Jefferson, Gilpin, Adams, Broomfield, Arapahoe, Denver, and Douglas counties presented more than 500 seminars this past year through the CASE Partnership  Communities Against Senior Exploitation.

The popular seminars cover the most prominent areas of fraud, including Identity Theft, Telemarketing and Internet Fraud, Home Improvement Scams, Mortgage and Predatory Lending, Investment Fraud and Caregiver Fraud.   Most importantly, the programs provide simple, but effective fraud prevention steps such as using a hidden pouch or wallet rather than carrying a purse, not placing checks in your mailbox, and using a cross-cut shredder.

A recent attendee reported she went home after a Power Against Fraud seminar and emptied her wallet of everything except one credit card.  She had been carrying her Social Security card and took that out of her purse.  That Sunday, after church, she and her husband parked their car in a city park and took a short walk.  She said, "I know I did a dumb thing because I left my purse on the floor of the car.  Our car was broken into, my purse was taken--but the only thing I had to worry about was the one credit card I had left in my purse.  I was carrying my Driver's License in the neck wallet that was given out at the seminar.  My other credit cards, debit card, and Social Security card would have been in my purse if I hadn't attended the seminar."

To schedule a Power Against Fraud seminar for your church, community center or other group in Jefferson or Gilpin counties, contact Cary Johnson at 303-271-6970.  You can also call our Fraud Hotline, 303-271-6980, to find out before you give your money to someone you don't know, whether or not it could be a scam.