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City Offers Senior Citizens Cyber Scam Workshops [Los Angeles Sentinel (CA)](Los Angeles Sentinel (CA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) * CITY NEWS SERVICE As of June 13 the city is offering free workshops as part of a campaign to educate seniors about online scams, City Attorney Mike Feuer announced. The campaign -- dubbed "Take Off Your Rose Colored Glasses: Things Are Not Always What They Seem To Be" - will "give seniors the tools to thwart scam artists, surf the web safely and feel empowered to use cyber-technology without fear," Feuer said. The Department of Aging and the City Attorney's Office will hold 14 free workshops to educate seniors about schemes perpetrated using computers, laptops, cell phones, tablets and other devices. The first of these classes will be begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Bernardi Senior Center, 65 14 Sylmar Ave, in Van Nuys. The campaign is funded by a grant from the state Attorney General's Office. The city of Los Angeles is home to 400,000 people over the age of 65, who may become the targets of scam artists, city officials said. Laura Trejo, general manager of the Department of Aging, said 84 percent of seniors in Los Angeles view technology and the internel as important, with many saying technology helps them "stay connected to family, friends and the wider world." But seniors must be "vigilant to prevent being victimized," which is why the city is working to "raise awareness about internet scams and fraud to keep seniors safe," she said. Feuer's office will also put out brochures, posters and video, as well as hold an Elder Abuse Prevention Symposium in January. (c) 2014 Los Angeles Sentinel [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] |