Jewish Federation Plaza offers program on protections again scams
Communities First Initiative joined the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey and Valley National Bank for a program called “How to Avoid Scams, Frauds, and Identity Theft.” It was offered to seniors at Jewish Federation Plaza in West Orange.
Project Thrive, a CFI program, provides low- and moderate-income seniors and families with education and direct services that promote healthy lifestyles, financial stability, and community belonging. It’s one of a group of bilingual financial education presentations that CFI is conducting throughout the state as a result of the huge increase in the numbers of senior citizens who have experienced scams, frauds, and identity theft.
“Seniors are uniquely vulnerable to internet and email- based scams and phishing due to a lack of familiarity with information technology or the strategies of internet fraudsters,” Harold Colton-Max, JCHC’s CEO, said. “Our partnership with Communities First Initiative and Valley National Bank allows JCHC to provide for residents living in communities like Jewish Federation Plaza. Together we can organize seminars like these that teach seniors the skills they need to recognize scams and frauds and to protect their financial wellbeing.”
“Empowering low- and moderate-income seniors, those most likely to be preyed upon, with the knowledge of how to avoid scams, fraud, and identity theft is crucial, as it equips them to protect their hard-earned savings and personal information,” CFI’s executive director, Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, said. “Awareness is the first line of defense against exploitation, and informed seniors can navigate their financial landscape with confidence, ensuring their dignity and security in their golden years.”
The Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey, a nonprofit organization founded in 1982, owns and manages more than 470 apartments in four senior living communities in Morris and Essex counties in northern New Jersey.
Valley National Bank, the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, is a regional bank with more than $62 billion in assets.
Communities First Initiative is a statewide nonprofit 501(c)(3) women-led, majority minority organization, founded in 1994 to promote social, racial and economic justice.