NORTH BEACH, Md. — Calvert County Community Resources, in partnership with the Housing Authority of Calvert County and the Maryland Insurance Administration, recently hosted a free fraud prevention workshop at the Twin Beaches Library. The event focused on helping homeowners, renters and caregivers identify scams, distinguish them from genuine activity and understand the best next steps to take.
In a highly digitized world, scams and fraud seem commonplace and can feel overwhelming. Just recently, for example, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Department warned of a phone scam where callers impersonated known members of their department.
The workshop focused on different types of fraud, with the Maryland Insurance Administration focusing its presentation on insurance fraud, where an insurance producer, adjuster or consumer commits a deliberate deception for financial gain. According to their presentation, this type of fraud has a $9 million annual impact on Maryland. And those fraud costs are made up through the premiums other people pay; in Maryland, residents pay $1,500 extra each year to offset fraud.
Unfortunately, where there’s money involved, there’s likely going to be fraud, too. Residents who believe they have been a victim of fraud or that a fraud or scam is taking place are encouraged to report the incident to local law enforcement, who can help them take the next steps. People can access the following resources to find out the best way to proceed:
- Financial Fraud Crime Resource Center
- Financial Fraud Victim Connect Resource Center
- Financial Crime / Fraud Information and Resources
- Federal Trade Commission
And of course, if you suspect fraud, your first step should be to remove yourself from the situation that’s causing or could potentially cause harm. Professionals also recommend saving your records and communications.
Calvert residents can find more information on the Community Resources website.
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