Don't miss "Tricks of the Trade" - at a theatre near you!

We're partnering with AARP and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) again next week - bringing investor education to YOUR community!

We hope you will join us for this fabulous event Wednesdy, Nov. 18 - a special screening of an hour-long documentary on investor fraud: "Tricks of the Trade."

This hour-long documentary — which features real-life stories from victims and fraud criminals — teaches you how to recognize fraud and the persuasion tactics con artists use, and gives you the tools to defend yourself against them.

Presented by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation in partnership with AARP Washington and the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Don’t miss this special premiere—and the chance to learn how to outsmart investment fraud!

The film will be shown in three communities Nov. 18 - Lacey, Spokane and Vancouver.

You can register for the FREE movie screenings (seats are limited) at:

• Nov. 18 2-3:30 p.m. Spokane - http://www.saveandinvest.org/events/spokane
• Nov. 18 2-3:30 p.m. Vancouver - http://www.saveandinvest.org/events/vancouver
• Nov. 18 5-7 p.m. Lacey - http://www.saveandinvest.org/events/lacey

If you know anyone who may benefit from receiving investor protection information, please share this with them.

For more information on how to avoid becoming a victim of investor fraud, visit www.saveandinvest.org and www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/education/investments.

Western Washington Scam Jam Event – Thursday, November 12

The 2009 Western Washington Scam Jam event is approaching, and quickly! Scam Jam is put on by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and will take place on Thursday, November 12, from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm at Panorama City in Lacey.

Scam Jam is a free public event that educates attendees on how to make safe, informed buying decisions. Scam Jam is a great way to learn about common scams as well as the organizations out there that are available to help you avoid a scam. The BBB hosts 2 Scam Jam events each year in Western Washington.

Presentation on Senior Investment Fraud
Alicia Diefenbach of Consumer University will give a presentation on Senior Investment Fraud as part of the Investor Education In Your Community Program. Attendees will learn about common investment scams, techniques, as well as how they can protect themselves.

Presentation on Medicare Fraud
Ron House from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner will give a presentation on Medicare Fraud and what senior citizens should watch out for.

Organizations in Attendance

• Better Business Bureau
• Office of the Insurance Commissioner
• Washington Department of Financial Institutions
• Labor and Industries
• Federal Trade Commission

Details
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Location: Panorama City (Directions)
1751 Circle Ln SE
Lacey, WA 98503

Wenatchee FACSE conference a success!

Thank you to the 50-plus teachers who attended the Washington Family and Consumer Science Educators(WA-FACSE) Conference on Oct. 27 - you all ROCK! It 's GREAT to see so many teachers seeking out financial education information for themselves and their students!

We were so jazzed to partner with the Washington Society of CPAs to offer two financial education sessions - the basics of saving and investing and how to teach them, and a review of financial education resources. Knowing the 50-plus teachers who came to our sessions will take their information home and back to about 100 students each is so gratifying.

"It was a great opportunity to connect with high school teachers from all parts of the state and answer questions they have," WSCPA Financial Literacy Program Manager Amy O'Donnell said. "It also shows how many teachers are looking for new tools and resources to teach students these valuable skills."

Top take-aways from the day?

INVESTING

• Investigate BEFORE you invest - make sure the seller of an investment and the product you're looking to invest in are licensed and registered - go to http://www.saveandinvest.org/ to verify
• Understand what your needs are to reach your retirement goals and know what products can best help you get there - do some research BEFORE you call a financial planner or make an investment. Start at http://www.investorprotection.org/ and http://www.investor.org/ to make sure you're getting UNBIASED information.
• Be aware of current fraud schemes - visit www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/topscams.htm
• If you want to teach the basics of saving and investing, visit www.investorprotection.org/teach They've got a GREAT FREE product ready to go that will guide you step by step!

RESOURCES

There's no need to reinvent the wheel or pay for curriculum - there are plenty of FREE resources at your fingertips.

• If you want to make sure what you're working with aligns with WA standards and Jump $tart standards, visit www.flppp.org/educators.htm The Financial Education Public Private Partnership has done the work on vetting product and posted some of the top curriculum.
• Visit www.dfi.wa.gov/financial-education for more - most free or paid for by an outside entity like DFI!
• The National Jump$tart Coalition has a clearninghouse chock full of resources - go to www.jumpstart.org/search.cfm

We promised we'd post our handouts for you to download and share, so here they are:

• Financial Education They Did The Work For You (PDF)
• Investing Checklist (PDF)

Credit and Loan Phone Scams – Protect Yourself

This morning on KOMO’s Web site I saw a blog article about a Washington resident who was targeted by a potential loan phone scam. In this potential scam, the telemarketer was asking the resident to verify their social security number in connection with an unpaid online loan.

Telemarketing fraud is a common problem and nets many victims a year. It’s important to be able to recognize the warning signs of a possible scam and to take the necessary steps to protect yourself.

Steps You Can Take To Protect Yourself

• Register For The Do Not Call Registry
  By registering for the do not call registry, you essentially tell telemarketers to stop calling. Most legitimate telemarketers recognize the do not call registry and won’t call your number if it’s registered.
  


• Protect Your Personal Information
  Do not give out personal information such as your social security number, credit card information, or mothers maiden name, until you have done proper research on the company, individual, or offer.
  


• Develop A Refusal Script
  Don’t be caught off guard. If you’d like to refuse an offer, have a line or statement you can use every time. A clear and concise no thank you.

Signs Of A Fraudulent Credit Or Loan Offer
Thanks to the FTC.

• Not Interested In Your Credit History
  A lender who is not interested in your credit history, especially during these tough times, should not be trusted. Think about it this way: why would someone out of the blue just call you up and offer you credit on easy terms?
  


• "Your Loan Is Guaranteed"
  Legitimate lenders never "guarantee" that you will receive a loan before you apply.
  


• Slick Web sites And Copy-Cat names
  A lender who uses a copy-cat or "wanna-be" name. Crooks give their companies names that sound like well-known or respected organizations and create websites that look slick. Some scam artists have pretended to be the Better Business Bureau or similar reputable organizations.
  


• The Lender Or Broker Is Not Registered
  Lenders and loan brokers are required to register in the states where they do business. To check the registration status of a lender or loan broker check with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions at http://dfi.wa.gov/ or 1.877.RING DFI (746-4334).
  


• Asks You To Wire Money
  A lender who asks you to wire money or pay an individual. Don't wire or make any payment for a loan or credit card directly to an individual.

Report Telemarketing Fraud
If you feel a phone solicitation is a scam, report it to the FTC at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/report.shtml.

More Information From The FTC
The FTC has an entire Web site devoted to telemarketing fraud at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/index.shtml.

Seattle Foreclosure Prevention Workshop on Saturday, December 5

Government agencies, lenders, and non-profit agencies are teaming up for a free foreclosure prevention workshop on Saturday, December 5, at Cleveland High School in Seattle.

Homeowners facing foreclosure or who are beyond on their mortgage payments are encouraged to attend.

Date, Time, Location
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Where: Cleveland High School (Driving Directions)
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
More Information: (800) 368-1455

What You’ll Learn

• Options for saving your home
• Refinancing and loan modification options
• Foreclosure prevention programs
• The foreclosure process
• How to avoid scams

Immediate Help – Dial 211
For an immediate referral to a mortgage counselor, call the Washington Information Network by dialing 211.

Where’s Cleveland High School?
Cleveland High School is located on Beacon Hill: 5511 15th Ave. S.
(Driving Directions)

Bus: Metro Routes 106 and 60

What Should I Bring?

• Photo ID
• Social Security Card
• Closing Documents
• Last 2 Years W-2's and Tax Returns
• Last 2 Months Pay Stubs
• Last 2 Bank Statements
• Monthly Mortgage Statements
• Household Budget

Also if you have them: Layoff notice from employer and medical letter from doctor.

Featured Resource - The Internet Crime Complaint Center or IC3 for Short

October is National Cybersecurity Month, so I wanted to feature a really great resource, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or the IC3 for short.The IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

The IC3 addresses and monitors crime committed on the Internet. The IC3 is a helpful resource for both consumers and law enforcement agencies.

Internet users who feel they are a victim of a cyber crime are encouraged to report their experience to the IC3 at http://www.ic3.gov/

What The IC3 Does

• Provides a central point for the Internet crime victims to report and to alert an appropriate agency



• Collects, reviews, and refers Internet crime complaint to the appropriate law enforcement agencies



• Issues cyber crime alerts and tips for Consumers
  
  
• Identifies current crime trends over the Internet

IC3 Warns of Social Networking Fraud
The IC3 recently sent out an alert warning that fraudsters are using social networking sites, such as Facebook and Myspace, to commit crimes and spread malicious viruses.Read the alert at - http://www.ic3.gov/media/2009/091001.aspx

Check out the IC3 at http://www.ic3.gov/

IRS Retirement Plans Navigator

Small business owners looking for retirement plans for their employees now have some help from the IRS.

The IRS has launched an online IRS Retirement Plans Navigator that helps small employers choose the plan right for their business.

If you are a small business owner and already have set up a retirement plan, check out the section on maintaining and correcting a plan. You will find all the information you need to ensure your company's retirement plan stays tax law compliant.

The Retirement Plans Navigator can be found at http://www.retirementplans.irs.gov/.