(ABC 6 News) — As scams grow more advanced with technology, community members are taking action to protect themselves.
On Wednesday, dozens gathered in Rochester for the Scam Jam, an educational event focused on raising awareness about fraud and how to avoid becoming a victim.
Participants connected with local, state, and federal agencies offering tools and guidance to stay safe — especially from increasingly complex scams involving cryptocurrencies and impersonation tactics.
“Here in Rochester, someone was nearly scammed into converting their life savings into physical gold and handing it over to criminals operating locally,” said Jay Haapala, Associate State Director of AARP Minnesota, who spoke at the event.
Experts at the event stressed the importance of staying alert to suspicious activity. Regularly monitoring financial accounts and operating within the regulated banking system are key strategies to prevent fraud.
