Eight Minnesota credit unions are coming together with law enforcement and fraud prevention experts to help community members recognize scams, protect their personal information and know what to do if fraud occurs.

The collaborative effort comes at a critical moment for local consumers: Minnesotans lose an estimated $1.5 billion a year to online scams, according to a recent report by the Consumer Federation of America. The free Credit Unions Fighting Fraud seminar will take place Thursday, Aug. 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N. in Shoreview. Open to the public and designed for people of all ages, the event will combine practical education with one-on-one access to financial and public safety experts. Attendees can register for the free event through Eventbrite.

“Scammers are constantly changing their playbook, but they often rely on the same things: urgency, fear and trust,” said Derek Schmidt, payments and fraud manager at Novation Credit Union. “Fraud isn’t a problem any one institution can solve alone. By bringing credit unions, law enforcement and community experts together, we can help take the secrecy and shame out of these scams and give people practical tools to pause, spot the warning signs and know what to do before they send money, share information or click a link.”

A 75-minute educational session will feature Erica Thompson, outreach program manager with the Minnesota and North Dakota Better Business Bureau; Alicia Ouellette, crime prevention deputy with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office; Derek Schmidt, payments and fraud manager at Novation Credit Union; and Brad Lynch, director of fraud investigations and recovery at Wings Financial Credit Union. Speakers will explain how scams work, highlight evolving tactics and share steps people can take to reduce their risk.

Attendees can also put their fraud knowledge to the test as they move through information booths devoted to some of today’s most common and costly scams. They’ll learn how to spot a romance scam, recognize when a “family member” or government official may be an imposter and identify red flags in job offers, investment opportunities, cryptocurrency pitches, checks, wire transfers, emails and texts. Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union will lead the romance scam booth, sharing practical ways to stay open to online connections without opening the door to fraud.

Free secure paper shredding will be available from Shred N Go, and Minnesota Tech for Success will also be onsite to collect laptops, desktop computers, tablets, cellphones and other small electronics to be refurbished for Minnesota schools or recycled. All device data will be destroyed using NAID AAA-certified practices to keep data secure. Household appliances and equipment containing hazardous materials cannot be accepted.

Participating credit unions include:

  • Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union

  • City & County Credit Union

  • Expedition Credit Union

  • Ideal Credit Union

  • MY Credit Union

  • Novation Credit Union

  • Royal Credit Union

  • Wings Financial Credit Union

This project is made possible in part through generous funding from the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation and Visa®.

About Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union

Based in St. Paul, Minn., Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, financial cooperative that puts people first above profits. Members of Affinity Plus receive maximum value through competitive rates, minimal fees, and unique, member-centric products and programs. Established in 1930, Affinity Plus has 35 branches located throughout Minnesota and is owned by more than 300,000 members. Affinity Plus has more than $5 billion in assets. Additional information is available at www.affinityplus.org or by calling (800) 322-7228.

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