By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

An upcoming seminar aims to prevent seniors from falling victim to financial fraud.

“Seniors are typically more vulnerable for theses types of financial crimes because of their competency levels at times, because of their trustworthy nature, typically very loyal and they want to help others, very giving, kindhearted,  so typically they are easy prey … easy targets … for a lot of white-collar crimes,” said Darci Cain, Sunflower Bank wealth management adviser. “And we are continuing to see those (crimes) increase.”

Cain will present at the May 14 session with Assistant Attorney General Robert Novak.

According to the coordinator Herb Callison of Mainstream Inc., a Topeka-based nonprofit, “a lot of scam artists prey on (seniors) and take advantage because they don’t know how to say ‘no.’ ”

Callison said the seminar will teach seniors how to say “no” to scams, understand and prevent identity theft, learn the signs and risk factors of financial abuse, and learn how to protect their bank accounts from scams and fraud.

According to Callison, the program will not only benefit seniors but also their caregivers, employees of financial institutions, law enforcement and others concerned with the prevention and intervention of financial abuse aimed at older adults.

The free session is scheduled for May 14 at the Kansas Highway Patrol Office, 1821 Frontier Road, Hays. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with refreshments, and the program is from  9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information, call (800) 582-1428.  The informational sessions are funded by a grant from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, the U.S. Administration on Aging and the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging.