With identity theft and scams on the rise, now is the perfect time to learn how to protect your identity and money.

We are announcing a free webinar in the Money Talks series – Identity Theft and Scams: What Everyone Needs to Know.

Date and Time: Monday, January 29th, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time

David Shallcross from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General will guide a discussion on what identity theft is, how it happens, how to prevent it, what to do if it happens to you, and the reported scams to look out for.

Please register for the webinar ahead of time.

You can register by scanning the QR code or the REGISTER button below.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Click to download the flyer and share it with others.

If you have any questions or need assistance with registering, please contact Karen Hassett – khassett@patf.us.

The webinar is the first in a series of PATF Money Talks webinars for 2024. This will educate consumers on some do's and don’ts of ID theft.

Each year, more than 10 million Americans have their personal information — including name, Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number — stolen. This presentation is designed to raise awareness of identity theft tactics, steps to take to protect your identity and personal information, and information on reporting identity theft.

Disclaimer: The information provided in the webinar is for educational purposes only. The Office of the Attorney General is not affiliated with Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF).

More young people (ages 20-29) are reporting losing money to fraud, according to the Consumer Sentinal (Federal Trade Commission [FTC]). However, older adults (ages 70-79) lose more money when they fall victim to fraudsters. About one in five people lost money to scams as of September 2023. 

What do we need to look out for in 2024? Experian and the FTC have identified some scams:

1. AI-powered scams – emails and texts have a more natural sound to them and don’t have noticeable mistakes that, in the past, made them more easily identifiable.

2. Student loan forgiveness scams – scammers may contact people by phone with offers to get their students forgiven – for a fee. According to the Department of Education website, they will never contact anyone via the phone, and application for student loan forgiveness is always free.

3. Phone scams – Robocalls and impersonator calls have a more natural sound to them, and when using voice-cloning technology, scammers can make an almost perfect copy of someone’s voice from a short audio clip.

Read the full blog to learn more.

Individuals and families who save with the PA ABLE Savings Program can set aside even more in the new year. 

PA ABLE contribution limits increased to $18,000 in 2024. So, whether the individual is the only person saving or loved ones also contribute, PA ABLE accounts can receive higher contributions this year. ABLE accounts offer tax and other benefits.

The amount someone can contribute if they are working has also increased but is subject to certain conditions. Call 855-529-ABLE or go to paable.gov/faqs/#overview for more information.

Register today for PA ABLE's free webinars for individuals with disabilities, families, and professionals to learn more about the PA ABLE Savings Program.

Funds from a PA ABLE account can be used for housing, transportation, and assistive technology.

Webinar: Connecting PA ABLE and Work Incentives for People with Disabilities

Date and Time: Jan. 23, 2024, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Click to register

Webinar: PA ABLE and Social Security Disability Programs

Date and Time: Jan. 30, 2024, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Click to register

Webinar: Learn About the PA ABLE Savings Program

Date and Time: Feb. 22, 2024, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Click to register

PATF will host a webinar on ABLE with Diana Fishlock from PA Treasury on April 10, 2024. Be on the lookout in late February for an email from us or on our Money Talks page for more information and a registration link.

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) helps Pennsylvanians of all ages, all disabilities and health conditions, all income levels, and all communities and cultural backgrounds. We offer information about acquiring assistive technology (AT), funding resources, financial education, and financial loan programs. For more information, call 484-674-0506 or visit www.patf.us.

PATF is a state and federally-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and is the Commonwealth's designated Alternative Financing Program (AFP) under the federal Assistive Technology Act.