Johnstown seniors learn to fight back against online scams
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ)—The Cambria County Area Agency on Aging held a free luncheon to teach seniors how to spot financial scams.
Members heard from officials from the Johnstown Police Department and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office about the effects of financial exploitation. In addition, seniors were given multiple pamphlets and a game of Bingo titled 'Fraud' to save themselves from financial trouble.
'Financial exploitation of the elderly is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States,' M. Vail Griffith, the director of the Cambria County Area Agency on Aging, said. 'And there's so much of it all over the world. But right here in Cambria County, we get calls almost every week.'
Topics included ways to avoid multiple scams, which involve tactics such as online relationships, late tax filings and Pennsylvania Turnpike toll fees. Those who end up giving their information to help end up hurting financially.
'We see older adults losing thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars, even to the point of losing their home,' Griffith said. 'The older adults just really think that they're helping someone and that they'll get paid back.'
To learn more ways to spot fraud and scams, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities website and look for the Cybersecurity Resources tab.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hollidaysburg man charged after leading officers on ‘reckless' pursuit
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Hollidaysburg man is facing charges after he allegedly led multiple police departments on a high speed chase and almost hit an officer head on while he was driving in the wrong lane. James Potts, 44, is facing over 40 charges after he allegedly led officers on a high-speed chase, according to a criminal complaint. On June 2, a Pennsylvania trooper received a call to respond to a pursuit in Vintondale Borough in Cambria County. Potts, who was driving a Ford Explorer with a utility trailer attached, had fled from police on Ben Franklin Highway. Philadelphia duo arrested in Altoona with drugs after foot chase According to the complaint, while running from police, Potts's vehicle reached speeds up to 90 mph and drove into the other lanes multiple times. During the pursuit, a cruiser from the Nanty Glo Borough Police Department was damaged, and the chief of the Blacklick Township Police Department was almost struck and an officer with the Cambria Township Police Department sustained a hand injury that needed sutures. Potts eventually lost control of the vehicle and allegedly tried to flee from police into a nearby wooded area. However, he was arrested after a failed deployment of a stun gun or taser. 'This multi-jurisdictional high speed pursuit placed the lives of responding officers and the general public in danger, and occurred at high unsafe speeds in combination with reckless and careless driving,' Troopers noted in the complaint. Potts is facing felony charges of aggravated assault, fleeing officers, criminal mischief and evading arrest. He's also facing misdemeanor charges of simple assault, resisting arrest and recklessly endangering another person, along with multiple summary driving offenses. He's in the Cambria County Prison with bail set at 10% of $600,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 10. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
1 arrested, 1 at large after Altoona traffic stop leads to drugs
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — A traffic stop in Altoona led to a drug bust and two men being charged; however, one of them is still at large. Altoona police announced the arrest of Rafiq Dandridge, 30, and issued an arrest warrant for Terrance Mitchell, 34, both of Philadelphia, after a traffic stop on the 100 block of 6th Avenue at around 1:20 p.m. Saturday, May 31. According to police, the traffic stop was initiated after spotting a vehicle from Philadelphia with an expired registration. The driver, Mitchell, was found to be on parole for various drug violations. Dandridge, the passenger, had a warrant for his arrest out of Montgomery County. While speaking with the duo, police alleged they had conflicting stories as to why they were in Altoona. This prompted 9 Pongo to join and perform a vehicle sniff for the presence of drugs — which Pongo allegedly gave a positive alert. Philadelphia native found with $23K worth of drugs in Altoona bust Police arrested Dandridge on his active warrant and released Mitchell. The vehicle was impounded to obtain a search warrant. Police said the following was found once the warrant was approved: 37 glassine packets stamped 'Oreo' and 'Dennis Rodman' containing suspected methamphetamine Four baggies with suspected fentanyl Four baggies containing suspected crack, 14 grams One baggie of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, 4 grams Both men were charged with possession with intent to distribute. Dandridge was placed in Blair County Prison in lieu of $100,000 cash remains at large with an active arrest warrant through the Altoona Police Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Decatur teen gets 40 years for killing mom, unborn baby
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A Decatur teenager has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after a dispute over Snapchat two years ago escalated to shots being fired, killing a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. Mattarion Anderson, 17, was in court on Friday to learn his fate after he was convicted in April of first-degree murder and intentional homicide of an unborn child. After listening to three victim impact statements and hearing evidence from the defense, Judge Griffith condemned Anderson to 20 years in prison for each count — sentences that will run consecutively. Macon Co. Sheriff's Office investigating after two found dead in home Trying Anderson from the bench, Griffith found that he was one of three people who, on March 8, 2023, took part in a shooting that left 20-year-old Janiah Thomas dead. The mother of two, soon to be three, was visiting her boyfriend's home on Woodford Street when Anderson and his accomplices appeared, in retribution for an ongoing dispute. Decatur Police said in a sworn statement that Thomas' boyfriend and brother went outside once they were aware of Anderson's presence. Shots were fired a short time later and the bullets went flying into the home. Thomas was shot as she tried to protect her 4-year-old daughter, who was shot in the eye. The girl would lose her eye as a result of the shooting, along with her mother and unborn sibling. In April, Judge Griffith convicted Anderson of killing Thomas and her baby, but not for aggravated battery to Thomas' daughter. On Friday, more than two years after the deadly shooting, Griffith sentenced Anderson to four decades behind bars. However, the sentence could have been worse if Anderson were an adult when the crime was committed. He was facing adult charges, but Griffith decided against imposing a 25-year firearm enhancement for each count due to state statute concerning underage defendants. UPDATE: State Police name victims, release new info in Shelby Co. car vs. train crash Anderson is the second person to be sentenced in connection with Thomas' murder. A week after finding Anderson guilty, Griffith accepted a plea of guilty from Tarlan Mackey for residential burglary related to the shooting. Griffith sentenced Mackey to 10 years in prison for that crime while dismissing all counts of murder and aggravated battery. The third suspect in the case is Anderson's brother Mattavius. His case is still pending, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for Friday. Mattavius has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of murder and aggravated battery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
