Palm Desert ‘Scaminar’ to help seniors spot increasingly sophisticated scams

PALM DESERT, CA (KESQ) - Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, using increasingly convincing tactics to target victims, and experts say artificial intelligence is making it even harder to tell what’s real and what’s a scam.

The issue is especially concerning for aging and senior populations, including communities across the Coachella Valley.

To help residents recognize warning signs and protect themselves, an upcoming “Scaminar” in Palm Desert will focus on some of the most common scam patterns being seen today and offer practical steps people can take to avoid becoming victims.

According to the IRS, financial crimes targeting seniors continue to be a growing concern, with more than $2 billion in reported losses last year, an eightfold increase since 2020.

Leeann Flores, a senior vice president with Bank of America, said fraud can affect people from all walks of life and often happens before victims realize they are being targeted.

“Fraud is on the rise, and innocent people lose their hard-earned money every day because of these scams,” Flores said. “While our bankers are trained to spot these scams, unfortunately by the time we see it, it is too late. And we really want to help people get ahead of it before it’s too late.”

The Palm Desert “Scaminar” will cover scam trends and techniques designed to make fraudulent calls, messages and other forms of communication appear legitimate.

Organizers say the goal is to give residents the information they need to recognize red flags, slow down when something feels suspicious and take steps to protect their finances and personal information.

The event will be held September 25 at the Bank of America Palm Desert branch.

The “Scaminar” is free and open to the public.