Ideal Credit Union and Minnesota Department of Commerce to host three free workshops

Woodbury, MN. October 1, 2024 – Ideal Credit Union is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Commerce on a new workshop series. The workshops aim to build critical awareness around a growing number of financial scams and fraud targeting senior citizens.

“Ideal Credit Union is committed to educating our members and the community about how scammers operate and how easily people can be pressured into giving away money or personal information,” said Alisha Johnson, Chief Growth Officer at Ideal Credit Union. “Our workshops are a valuable resource for building awareness and learning how to identify and prevent fraud, whether for yourself or a loved one.”

While fraud can happen to anyone, experts say that understanding how scammers operate makes you 80% less likely to become a victim. The most common financial scams reported to the FBI last year were investment, romance and tech support scams. In 2023, scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older in the U.S. resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses—an increase of about 11% from the previous year.

Ideal Credit Union’s Workshop Series with the Minnesota Department of Commerce offers three opportunities to join a virtual gathering with Minnesota experts where you’ll learn about the current fraud landscape and the simple ways to protect yourself.

Ideal Credit Union Workshop: Cyber Security Awareness

When: Thursday, October 17^th from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Expert Speaker: Marty Fleischhacker, Senior Financial Fraud Ombudsman at Minnesota Department of Commerce.

What You’ll Learn: In this workshop we’ll share the common types of fraud and scams, who is targeted and the scope of the problem. Plus, we’ll share the key tips to avoiding becoming a victim and how you can help report fraud.

Ideal Credit Union Safe Seniors Workshop: Elder Abuse and Senior Exploitation in Minnesota

When: Thursday, November 14^th from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Expert Speaker: Lisa Lovering, Senior Financial Exploitation Investigator with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Prior Chief Deputy with Isanti County Sherriff’s Office.

What You’ll Learn: In this workshop, The presentation will address financial exploitation cases. how to identify these cases and how to help customers. We will also discuss how you can partner with the Department of Commerce on these cases.

Ideal Credit Union Workshop: Financial Fraud and How to Protect Yourself

When: Thursday, December 12^th 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Expert Speaker: Boima Freeman, Senior Financial Fraud Investigator, Minnesota Department of Commerce.

What You’ll Learn: The presentation will outline prevention strategies and identify some impacts of fraud. Information will be provided about scams and how to avoid becoming a fraud victim and what to do if you are or suspect you are being targeted. Stories about the recent fraud trends and cases we are working on at the Department of Commerce. Offering resources such as AARP’s Fraud Watch Network and the FTC website along with many other help tools.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce partners with financial professionals to

prevent fraud and exploitation. The Safe Seniors Financial Protection Act provides tools to identify and report cases of financial abuse of seniors and vulnerable adults.

About Ideal Credit Union

Founded in 1926, Ideal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution that is dedicated to providing financial services driven by a sincere and personal interest in the needs of our employees, members, and community. Ideal CU offers a complete range of services, including a full suite of digital banking products, savings, checking, loans, mortgage products, business services, SBA loans and more.

Ideal Credit Union was voted “Best in State Credit Union” by Forbes in 2023 and 2024, named a 2023 “Best Places to Work” by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and recognized as the “Best Credit Union” for five years by readers of the Stillwater Gazette. It also received “Best Bank/Financial Institution,” “Best Customer Service,” “Best Financial Planner,” “Best Mortgage,” and “Best Place to Work” honors in Hugo, MN, by the Citizen Press Readers' Choice. Ideal Credit Union has a strong online presence and branches in Eagan, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, North St. Paul, Stillwater and Woodbury. Visit idealcu.com for details and directions.