Free Senior Safety Fair: scam recognition, safe driving tips, and lunch!

ALFRED, Maine – Many would agree that those who identify as “senior citizens” are an independent, capable lot. Most seniors, with the benefit of decades of experience, are comfortable and adept at managing their lives.

But aging impacts everyone a bit differently, and seniors can be vulnerable. Driving might be a bit more of a challenge than it used to be for some folks. Silver-tongued scam artists with an eye on someone's bank account can be very clever and deceptively engaging.

Education is key and, with that in mind, folks in the senior citizen age bracket are invited to a totally free Senior Safety Fair on March 13 to listen and learn. The event will be hosted at the brand new York County Regional Training Center at 79 First County Way, off Route 4 and Layman Way in Alfred. (take Layman Way off Route 4, and then the first right).

York County Sheriff’s Office, TD Bank and AAA Northern New England are teaming up to offer the day of conversation, learning and fun. They will be joined by representatives of the York County Elder Abuse Task Force, Southern Maine Agency on Aging and Maine’s Elder Justice Investigator Candice Simeoni.

Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts. There is an opportunity for drivers to have their vehicle’s battery checked and windshield washer fluid topped off, followed by presentations (with a break in between!), lunch, some socialization and a few raffles, according to York County Sheriff William L. King Jr.

“This day is focused on senior safety, but we encourage family members and caregivers to also come and participate. There will be something for everybody!” said King.

AAA Northern New England Traffic Safety Education Specialist and former longtime law enforcement officer Tom Baran will give a workshop called “Keeping the Keys.” Designed to help older adults minimize their driving risks, topics include how driving changes with age, how to safely adapt driving as we age, knowing all about the vehicle you’re driving, and more.

“Being able to run your own errands can give older adults a greater level of independence,” said Baran. “However, the physical and cognitive changes that come with aging, along with medical conditions and increased medication use, can put older drivers at greater risk when driving.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, drivers 70 and older have a higher crash death rate per 1,000 crashes than drivers aged 35-45. The higher crash death rates among the 70-plus age group are primarily due to increased vulnerability to injury in a crash.

A presentation by TD Bank is next, offering TD SAFE (Security Awareness for Everyone), a fraud-focused session to help seniors understand how scams operate and how to protect their financial assets and identity.

How prevalent are scams? Consider this: There were 608 internet fraud complaints filed by Maine people 60 and older totaling just under $13 million in losses, according to the 2024 FBI Annual Internet Crime Report. According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter scams and identity theft resulted in a total of $23.9 million in fraud losses in Maine across all age groups, with the highest concentration of reports from York County.

Scams happen every day, and the perpetrators are clever and relentless. They’ll befriend you, flatter you and take your last dime.

“Fraud and scams are constantly evolving, and it is impacting our communities more than ever,” said Christopher Blackmore, Senior Manager of Customer Education at TD. “Being a victim of a scam can be embarrassing and one of the main reasons it is under reported. It all starts with education and that’s why we developed the TD SAFE program.”

The TD team works directly with communities to provide guidance and trusted advice whether those participating are TD clients or not. “Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to help keep our communities safe," said Kate Burns, Retail Market President, New England North/South, TD. "We’re proud to partner with the York County Sheriff’s Office, AAA Northern New England, and other community organizations to help raise awareness about fraud, identity theft, and the steps individuals and families can take to stay informed and protected.”

King said he is pleased that community partners like TD Bank, AAA Northern New England and others stepped forward.

“The York County Sheriff's Office sees the Senior Safety Fair as an opportunity to leverage private resources for the public's good,” said King. “These events are much more impactful when community partners are engaged.”