The Yonkers Police Department is taking proactive steps to protect residents, especially older adults, from financial scams by hosting educational presentations across the city to help residents recognize, avoid, and report fraudulent activity.
In the past few weeks, Yonkers Detectives have delivered scam-prevention presentations to approximately 100 seniors at the Bernice Spreckman Center, another 60 seniors at the Chema Center, and to the City’s Senior Advisory Board, empowering its members to help spread awareness throughout the senior community. During the sessions, attendees learned about the most common scams targeting older adults and shared practical tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.
The presentations cover a wide range of topics, including types of identity theft, common phone and online scams, gift card scams, and steps individuals can take to protect their personal and financial information. Detectives emphasize warning signs to watch for, such as urgent demands for payment, requests for personal information, and pressure to pay with gift cards or wire transfers.
“Our seniors should never feel alone or unprotected when it comes to financial fraud,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “These scams are designed to deceive and intimidate, and education is one of the strongest tools we have to fight back. I applaud our Yonkers Police Department for continuing to take this important message directly to our residents.”
Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza stated, “Scammers are constantly changing their tactics, but the goal is always the same: to take advantage of trust. While we have been successful in arresting suspects in many of these scam cases, by educating seniors and community leaders, we’re helping residents stay informed, confident, and protected.”
“Too often, we see our residents, especially socially isolated older residents, fall prey to many types of scams and fraud, said Kelly Chiarella, Director of Yonkers Office for the Aging. “They lose their hard-earned savings, they feel humiliated, and they are a target for more incidents to occur. We need to spread the word that communication is a one-way street. If it’s coming to you, don’t trust it. Don’t click on the link, don’t respond to the email, and above all, do not give any personal identifiable information. Many thanks to the Yonkers Police Department for taking on this important task of keeping our residents safe against predators.”
A video version of the scam-prevention presentation is available here.
Residents who believe they may have been targeted or victimized by a scam are encouraged to contact the Yonkers Police Department immediately at (914) 377-7900. Community groups, senior centers, and organizations interested in scheduling a presentation should e-mail police@ypd.yonkersny.gov for more information.
