At Madison Palms Senior Community in North Las Vegas, laughter and cheers filled the room as about 50 senior residents gathered for a round of Fraud Prevention Bingo. Hosted by GBank and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), the event turned learning about financial scams into an engaging game. Instead of shouting “Bingo!” winners declared “Fraud!” as they marked off squares labeled with scam warnings like “Beware! Ponzi Schemes” and “Don’t click on that link,” alongside practical questions and safety tips.
The holiday season, often dubbed “scam season,” sees a spike in fraud targeting seniors. According to the FBI, more than 101,000 seniors were defrauded in 2023, losing an estimated $3.4 billion. Many cases go unreported, with one in ten seniors falling victim to scams, said Kristine LaVigna of ICBA’s Senior Crime Stoppers team.
Tips shared during the event included checking bank statements regularly, ignoring calls from unknown numbers, using strong passwords, and consulting a trusted friend or family member about suspicious offers. Participants enthusiastically answered questions, reinforcing key points such as never giving out personal information over the phone.
Winners received prizes ranging from chocolate bars to kitchen towels, but the real reward was practical knowledge to help them avoid scams. Attendee Angela Galafante reflected on the importance of slowing down and reading the fine print, noting that the interactive session made important lessons easy—and fun—to remember.