Scams: What to do if you are scammed and how to identify and avoid them
Speakers: Gema de las Heras, Erin Scheithe, Nicole Shea, & Alan Sorcher

Please join the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a discussion on current scams targeting older investors. You will learn the red flags of fraud, how to identify a scam, how to avoid them and what to do if you realized you have been scammed.

Gema de las Heras is a bilingual Consumer Education Specialist in the FTC’s Division of Consumer and Business Education, where she works on outreach projects to inform and educate consumers about bad business practices and how to spot and avoid fraud. She also authors consumer alerts on the latest scams and has over 15 years of experience working in roles that focus on consumer education. Prior to joining the FTC, Gema worked as a Television Producer with Univision 41 News, and later as a Public Information Officer with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

Erin Scheithe [pronounced Shy-thee] serves the public as an Investor Communications Specialist in the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In this role she conducts outreach in fulfillment of the SEC’s mission to inform and protect investors. Prior to joining SEC, Erin worked for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and AARP to help older adults avoid fraud and navigate key financial decisions. Erin spent the first half of her career in the banking industry, managing youth financial education programs and grassroots advocacy efforts. She earned both an undergraduate degree in English literature and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Nicole Shea is an Outreach and Engagement Specialist in the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA), where she works on digital engagement, social media, and investor outreach. Prior to joining the SEC, Nicole served as the Digital Engagement Director at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. She has also worked at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, AARP, Getty Images and National Geographic Magazine. Nicole is a graduate of Villanova University and lives in Washington, D.C.

Alan Sorcher is an Assistant Director in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA).   Alan assists OIEA in its mission to inform and educate investors on frauds and other information relevant to investing in securities.  Earlier in his career, Alan was a Branch Chief in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, a Senior Advisor at Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Senior Counsel at the Federal Reserve Board.  Alan also spent almost ten years as a Managing Director and Associate General Counsel at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. Alan holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the Boston University School of Law.

Northwest Neighbors Village is a local non-profit dedicated to building a supportive community where older adults are valued and age with dignity. We are delighted to offer these programs for free to our neighbors, and keep you engaged and learning. To learn more about us or to support our efforts to enable older adults to thrive in Northwest, DC, please visit our homepage.

Thank you for your interest in our program!

Our membership dues only account for 1/3 of our budget, and we rely on the support of generous donors to continue to create and share engaging programs with the community. If you enjoy this program, please consider making a donation to Northwest Neighbors Village.