The Naperville Police Department will be host to a scam awareness webinar at noon Wednesday, Feb. 26, to educate citizens about the latest scams being used to defraud Naperville residents and how to protect themselves.
Naperville residents reported losing nearly $5.5 million to scams in 2024. Victims ranged in age from 15 to 91, emphasizing the need for residents of all ages to pay attention to the red flags of various scams. A Naperville Police financial crimes detective and crime prevention specialist will present the most commonly reported scams, explain current trends involving cryptocurrency, and identify red flags that can help residents recognize a possible scam.
The webinar will begin at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 26. It is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. A link to the webinar is available at www.naperville.il.us/ScamAwareness. Residents who do not have the Zoom application downloaded on their device will be able to view the webinar using their internet browser by clicking the “Join from your browser” option. A recording of the webinar will be made available on the City’s website after-the-fact for those who are not able to attend but are interested in learning more about this critical topic.
“Residents are being targeted regularly by scammers through phone calls, text messages, emails and even computer pop-ups,” said Police Chief Jason Arres. “Scammers are always changing their tactics, so it’s critical to keep up with current trends and learn what to look for when you’re communicating with someone that might tip you off to a scam.”
-City of Naperville