Harrisburg, PA – Education and outreach staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) will be hosting and participating in numerous presentations for groups of seniors, service providers, and the general public throughout the month of March to promote financial capability and provide investor education.
March outreach events, in partnership with the listed organizations, will be held in person and are open to the public unless otherwise noted.
EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Cybersecurity – Staying Safe Online: Whatever your age, understanding how to keep your information safe and secure online is vitally important for everyone. This presentation covers key topics like using secure websites, creating strong passwords, being aware of what you put on social media, and even tips for shopping online safely.
- The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center, 4200 Wissahickon Ave., Philadelphia (Philadelphia County) on March 11 from 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM. For additional information contact Veda Brown at 215-558-1531 or veda.brown@use.salvationarmy.org.
EVENTS FOR OLDER ADULTS
Avoiding Identity Theft: This presentation looks at ways people’s identities are stolen or compromised, what you can do if you find you have had your identity stolen, and how to stop theft from occurring.
- Hosted byWinnCompanies at the Fred B. Rooney Building, 4 East 4th St., Bethlehem (Northampton County) on March 3 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Open to residents only. For additional information contact Sara Goldstein at 610-868-8101 or sgoldstein@winnco.com.
- Hosted by the Columbia-Montour Aging Office, Inc. at the Benton Senior Center, 42 Community Drive, Benton (Columbia County) on March 19 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Jinny Keifer at 570-925-6533 or bencenter@cmaaa15.org.
Fraud BINGO: A fun and interactive presentation that teaches consumers how to protect themselves from investment fraud by playing a familiar game – BINGO! Every day people get “scammed” out of THOUSANDS of dollars. Many times, it’s those who can least afford to lose the money!
- Coopersburg Senior Community Center, 538 Thomas St., Coopersburg (Lehigh County) on March 4 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Nan Beitel-Vessels at 610-282-2330 or nancybv13@icloud.com.
- Hosted by the Luzerne County Area Agency on Aging at the Plains Active Adult Center, 50 Second St., Plains (Luzerne County) on March 13 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Alice Bohunko at 570-824-5542 or Alice.Bohunko@luzernecounty.org.
- Schuylkill Haven Senior Center, 340 Haven St., Schuylkill Haven (Schuylkill County) on March 20 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Debbie Herb at 570-628-3513 or HerbD@diakon.org.
- Hosted by the Central PA Community Action, Inc. at the Houtzdale Center for Active Living Senior Center, 40 Terrace Drive, Apt. 3, Houtzdale (Clearfield County) on March 26 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Gail Pennington at 814-378-5120 ext. 1400 or gpennington@cpcaa.net.
- Hosted by the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging at the Coalport Center for Active Living, 961 Forest St., Coalport (Clearfield County) on March 26 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Doug Brink at 814-672-3574 ext. 474 or DBrink@matureresources.life.
Avoiding Investment Scams: Scams are a dime a dozen; investment scams are no different. This session will cover investment scams like Ponzi Schemes, Affinity Fraud, Promissory Notes, and others. We will discuss the red flags of investment fraud; verifying an investment professional or investment opportunity; and what to do if you think you may have been a victim.
- St. Ephrem Catholic Church, 5400 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem (Bucks County) on March 21 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Open to St. Ephrem Senior Center members only.
Budgeting for Your New Year Goals: Are you financially ready for the new year? How far into the next year will you be paying off that holiday debt or that “trip of a lifetime?” This presentation focuses on the need for a spending plan/Budget. It emphasizes setting, and achieving, your financial goals for the new year (without the debt). We discuss the differences between wants and needs; setting SMART goals; creating a spending plan for the coming year; putting the plan into action; as well as periodically reviewing your plan to ensure you stay on track.
- Southern Blair Senior Center, 15229 Dunnings Highway, East Freedom (Blair County) on March 21 from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM. Open to members only. For additional information contact Karen Kelley at 814- 317-5181 or KKelley@blairsenior.org.
Cybersecurity – Online Shopping Tips: Online shopping has become very popular. Criminals know this and are primed and ready to take advantage of our generosity. They’ve honed and perfected their skills with ways to gather your personal information, steal your identity and your hard-earned money. This presentation will provide tips for protecting your personal information while shopping safely online!
- Philadelphia Senior Center-Allegheny, 1900 West Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia (Philadelphia County) on March 25 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Open to residents only. For additional information contact Barbara Jackson at 267-286-1455 orbwhitmore@philaseniorcenter.org.
LEGISLATIVE EVENTS
- Rep. Tina Davis’ Fraud BINGO: Bristol Township Senior Center, 2501 Bath Road, Bristol (Bucks County) on March 6 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. For additional information contact Bryan Allen at 267-580-2660 or ballen@pahouse.net.
- Rep. Justin Fleming’s $camJam: Friendship YMCA Senior Center, 5000 Commons Drive, Harrisburg (Dauphin County) on March 7 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. For additional information and/or to register contact Caleb Brown-Nystrom at 717-230-1172 or repfleming@pahouse.net.
- Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz Women’s Expo: Zion Baptist Church, 224 Washington St., Reading (Berks County) on March 8 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. For additional information contact Jaime Baez Jr. at 484-577-2756 or jbaez@pahouse.net.
- Rep. Liz Hanbidge’s $camJam: Spring House Estates, 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd (Montgomery County) on March 14 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For additional information and/or to register contact Kevin Carson at 610-277-3230 or kcarson@pahouse.net.
- Sen. Scott Martin’s $camJam in English and Spanish: Tec Centro SW, 57 Laurel St., Lancaster (Lancaster County) on March 19 from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM. For additional information contact Angie Eichelberger at 717-397-1309 or aeichelberger@pasen.gov. To register visit https://senatorscottmartinpa.com/scam-jam-reg/.
- Sen. Tracy Pennycuick’s $camJam: Boyertown Area Multi Service Center, 200 W. Spring St., Boyertown (Berks County) on March 20 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. For additional information and/or to register contact Beth Ann Mazza at 215-541-2388 or bmazza@pasen.gov.
- Rep. Zachary Mako’s $camJam: Northampton Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 2181 Washington Ave., Northampton (Northampton County) on March 27 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. For additional information and/or to register contact Jodi Nestor at 610-760-9805 or jnestor@pahousegop.com.
- Rep. Kristin Marcell’s Annual Senior Expo: Spring Mill Country Club, 80 Jacksonville Road, Ivyland (Bucks County) on March 28 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. For additional information contact Pat Caimano at 215-364-3414 or Pcaimano@pahousegop.com.
EVENTS FOR LIMITED AUDIENCES
Avoiding Scams and Identity Theft: This presentationexamines how identities are stolen or compromised, what you can do if you find you have had your identity stolen, and how to stop theft from occurring. We review common scams and frauds and discuss what you should do if presented with a financial offer that seem “too good to be true.”
- Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union, 3720 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown (Lehigh County) on March 22 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Open to credit union members only. For additional information contact Brianna Glose at 610-820-0145 ext. 427 or gloseb@lvecu.org.
Spending Plans – A Road to Financial Success: This presentation focuses on the need for a spending plan so that people can achieve their financial goals. We discuss the differences between wants and needs; setting SMART goals; creating a spending plan; putting the plan into action; as well as periodically reviewing goals and spending plans in order to ensure that you can stay on track.
- PA Office of Administration, Bureau of Employee Benefits, Harrisburg (Dauphin County) on March 27 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. This is a VIRTUAL presentation and open to Commonwealth employees only. For additional information contact Tim Pucino at 717-787-9872 or tpucino@pa.gov.
DoBS Investor Education and Consumer Outreach staff works with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth become well-informed about the financial marketplace.
Learn more about the free, non-commercial programs and presentation available, or contact us to request a program tailored to your specific needs.
Visit the department’s calendar of events to find an event near you. Consumers and community groups can call 1-800-PA-BANKS or email informed@pa.gov for more information.