The eighth annual Senior Law Day was held on Saturday, June 22, at TC Williams High School auditorium from 8:30 am-12:30 pm.
The topic was “Stand up for Yourself and Your Community: How to Avoid Scams.” Participants heard from local experts on how to identify a possible scam and how to protect themselves or a loved one from being a victim.
Attendees also learned what legal documents everyone should have in place and where to get help.
Keynote Speaker: Christine Keiffer of the Financial Regulatory Authority.
Christine’s presentation can be found here: Presentation
Attendee questions from the event have been answered below:
- How do you determine if a roof contractor is okay and not a scammer?
- You should ask for references, look at reviews on online sites (like Yelp and Google), ask for proof of licensure, and ask for proof of insurance. You can search for proof of a contractor’s license on the Virginia Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation: http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/LicenseLookup/ Also, be wary of service providers that come to your door seeking to provide services.
- Do we say it is fraud when people borrow money and declare bankruptcy so that they would not to pay back?
- It depends. You should speak with an attorney who focuses their practice on bankruptcy and debt collection.
- Can one request that the city of Alexandria remove them to receiving public information?
- If you are receiving information by email, there is generally an unsubscribe option at the bottom of the email. Otherwise, the City has set up a help phone line that can direct you to the appropriate department: 703-746-HELP (4357)
- How do you find auto parts companies, rental stories who are non-existent when victim tries to contact them for refund, etc.?
- You should call the police (either 911 or 703-746-4444 in Alexandria) and make a report if someone has committed fraud. You can also contact an attorney if you want to discuss bringing a claim against the company/person.
AARP Virginia‘s free Shred Truck was available, too.
This free event was co-sponsored by Senior Services of Alexandria and the Alexandria Bar Association. Thank you to all of this year’s participants, speakers, and sponsors.
