D&HHS Hosts Michigan AG Dana Nessel
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel spoke to 40 community members in mid-April, hosted by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, in an event on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Senior Scams.
For more than an hour, Nessel used sharp insights and a keen sense of humor to help those in attendance understand the insidious nature of scams that target the elderly, a category that the 54-year-old included herself in as well.
“Elderly seniors tend to get targeted more than anybody,” she said. “Why is that? It’s because we are more trusting. We are a generation that was taught that when someone calls, you pick up the phone and you talk to them.”
To the heads nodding in affirmation, she continued with further insights about not just the whys of senior scams but also the ways to avoid being scammed, including the many resources available through her office.
One resource she particularly spotlighted is the Michigan Identity Theft Support system or MITS.
Through MITS, Nessel noted, Michiganders have assistance and support if, despite their best efforts, they fall victim to a scam. But, she added, it’s important for people to be able to acknowledge that they were scammed.
“It can be very scary but make sure you contact us because the worst thing you can do is to do nothing,” she said. “Don’t be embarrassed. These scams are so sophisticated. They can happen to anyone. Contact us, and we will assign you a caseworker who will take you step by step through the process so you can restore your good name. Be proactive as possible.”
Erica Chapin, D&HHS community & partnerships manager, said Nessel’s visit and talk were exactly what the D&HHS team hoped for when approached with the opportunity to host the AG.“The event was amazing,” Chapin said. “Dana was engaging and involved the crowd throughout the presentation. She shared great examples and information for people to be aware and proactive against scams.”
For D&HHS executive director Deb Atwood, Nessel’s appearance at an event for the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing with ASL interpreters, was significant.
“We think it is extremely important for government leaders to recognize the communities we serve and meet them face to face,” she said. “Our people do not have that opportunity with leadership very often.”
Chapin agreed.
“It is important for us to host educational workshops and events like these because our community deserves to have access to information,” she said. “There is a lot of information out there about scams, but not very much that is actually accessible to the communities we serve.”