Manley Hosts Senior Fraud Seminar

CREST HILL, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, hosted a senior fraud seminar for the residents of Carillon Lakes, a senior living community in Crest Hill. The seminar was co-hosted by state Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, and a featured guest speaker from the Illinois Attorney General’s office.

Norman “Skip” Gonsoulin explained the latest fraud threats posed to seniors and how to avoid falling victim. He touched on identity theft, health care, civil rights, veterans, disability, charitable trust, and crime.

“Helping our senior community become aware of ways they are being targeted is the first step in protecting them from becoming victimized,” Manley said. “I want to thank Carillon Lakes for being proactive in helping prevent these senseless crimes.”

Gonsoulin focused on common scams aimed at seniors, including the “grandparent scam” during which a scam artist will impersonate a grandchild in distress to illicit money. 

The Illinois Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer and is responsible for protecting the public interest of the state and its people. Anyone believing they have been scammed, including older residents, or their families, can file complaints or call the Senior Consumer Fraud Hotline, 1-800-386-5438.

The attorney general’s staff can investigate the scammer, mediate with businesses, or pursue legal action when the wrongdoing affects the public interest. For crimes like identity theft, financial exploitation, or nursing home abuse, the attorney general has specialized units that can step in to investigate, work with law enforcement, and hold offenders accountable.