LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — “Stop and think about it before you act.” That was the key message shared during a fraud prevention roundtable hosted by Superior Credit Union, where regional financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, federal officials and community stakeholders gathered to address the growing threat of scams.
Participants discussed the types of fraud impacting residents and strategies to prevent further losses. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers were scammed out of $12 billion in 2024.
Among the most common schemes discussed were tax fraud, romance scams and identity theft. Officials said a common red flag in many scam attempts is a sense of urgency.
Jessica Holliday, fraud director at Superior Credit Union, said scammers often pressure victims into acting quickly.
“Anything that is a state of urgency. These fraudsters are calling, sending out fake emails, texts, phone calls, telling you that your money is not secure, that you need to withdraw funds, you need to send it out via crypto wires, gift cards, even unmarked vehicles that we've been told.”
Several panelists said some victims have reported individuals coming directly to their homes to retrieve money. Law enforcement officials noted an increase in so-called “in-person scams,” where a stranger befriends someone, gains their trust and eventually asks for money.
While the elderly are frequently targeted, officials emphasized that anyone can become a victim.
Superior Credit Union representatives said staff members are trained to speak with customers about fraud alerts and provide resources to help protect themselves from scams. Officials encouraged community members to slow down, verify requests for money and contact their financial institution or local authorities if something feels suspicious.
