By Aswad Walker
‘Tis the season for family, food, fellowship, and—unfortunately—fraud.
As holiday celebrations ramp up, so do attempts by scammers to exploit busy, distracted, or vulnerable people. Consumer protection sources report that nearly 40% of Black adults in the U.S. have been targeted by scams, with almost 20% losing money as a result.
Even more concerning, 60% of those victims say they were scammed more than once. Older Black adults are especially vulnerable during the holiday rush, when emotions run high, and attention runs low.
To help fight back, Cheri Green, vice president and Houston Community Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co., recently led a hybrid scam-avoidance workshop at the Houston Chase Lyons and Lockwood Community Center in the Fifth Ward. This location, the only Chase community center in Houston dedicated solely to financial education and empowerment, regularly hosts free programs on budgeting, savings, credit building, and financial protection.
“This particular workshop focused on helping the community by providing tips and advice to avoid scams, especially during the holidays,” she explained. “We know that almost everyone, from the little ones all the way to the elderly, is in some way, shape, form, or fashion impacted by fraud or scams either directly or indirectly.”
The holidays, Green noted, create the perfect storm.
“People are rushing around, they’re trying to get their holiday gifts. They may not be paying attention to the details. This is where we want our community to be vigilant, stay aware, stay organized to avoid any potential fraud or scams that could happen to them or their families,” she said.
Chase operates 19 community centers nationwide, and Houston is home to one of them—a space where residents can learn, ask questions, and practice habits that strengthen their financial well-being.
“At any given point throughout the month,” Green said, “we’re hosting various workshops to teach our community ways to protect themselves and their families.”
This article includes two videos:
• The first offers highlights from the entire workshop.
• The second provides quick, actionable tips for staying safe from scams and fraud.
And if you or a senior you know has been a victim of fraud, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 immediately.