LOWER TOWNSHIP — Lower Township officials brought the community together Sept. 23 to learn how to protect themselves from fraud and scams.
Mayor Frank Sippel and Township Council, along with the Lower Township Police Department, hosted more than 150 people on an issue considered vital to residents’ well-being and financial security.
FBI Special Agent Derek Altieri, of the Newark Division’s Northfield sub-office, which covers Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland counties, outlined common fraud schemes and practical ways to avoid them.
Topics included romance scams, government and family impersonation, fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, email payment fraud and fake computer security alerts.
Altieri explained how scammers exploit trust, create urgency and isolate victims from family and friends. He also discussed how artificial intelligence can be used to imitate a loved one’s voice or create convincing fraudulent documents.
According to recent Census estimates, about 27 percent of township residents are age 65 or older. The types and number of scams are only increasing with advances in technology. This public service town hall allowed residents to learn and ask questions on what to look out for and how to protect themselves in the future.
A central message was the importance of pausing and independently verifying any unexpected request for money or personal information. Residents were encouraged to call through a trusted phone number, consult a family member or friend, and consider establishing a family code word to help identify fraudulent emergency calls.
The presentation also highlighted warning signs such as demands for gift cards, gold or cryptocurrency, and instructions to keep financial transactions secret.
Residents who suspect fraud should promptly contact local law enforcement and report internet-related scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. Anyone who has sent money should also contact their financial institution and law enforcement immediately.
