In brief: Event to focus on exposing scams

The Washington state Attorney General’s Office and AARP are having a free “Scam Jam” Sept. 9 in Spokane to help people avoid today’s leading scams designed to steal your identity and your savings, especially those that prey on seniors.

The event will focus on scams that are tearing through the nation. Participants also will hear tips learned straight from the con-artists about who they target and why, according to an AARP press release.

Speakers include state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Gerri Walsh, president of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation, and representatives from the Federal Trade Commission.

Millions of dollars are lost each day to scams like foreign lottery fraud, investment schemes, the “grandparents’ scam” and online traps.

Participants must register at www.aarp.org/wa or call (877) 926-8300.

The Scam Jam is from 9:30 a.m. to noon at CenterPlace Regional Events Center, 2426 N. Discover Place, Spokane.

SNAP seeks volunteers

There is an urgent need for volunteers for the SNAP Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, which helps prevent and notify authorities of senior abuse and neglect concerns in regional assisted living centers, adult family homes and nursing homes.

Last year volunteers accounted for 2,779 visits to facilities in Spokane, Pend Oreille, Ferry, Stevens and Whitman counties. Interested participants must complete a four-day training session and receive technical assistance as well as ongoing education at monthly meetings. Volunteers must commit to a minimum of one year of service. Volunteers generally donate four hours a week and visit sites near their homes. SNAP covers gas costs with a stipend.

For more information, call Linda Petrie at (509) 456-7133, ext. 209 or (800) 660-7133 or go to www.snapwa.org.