The 2026 TARCOG Fraud & Scam Summit drew a record-setting crowd of about 300 people on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the RSVP building in Guntersville.
“This is the largest number we’ve ever had to attend this annual event,” said Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan, as she welcomed the crowd.
Alarming statistics make it easy to see why so many people are interested in learning as much as possible about frauds and scams — especially those targeting older adults.
According to the FBI’s 2025 IC3 Annual Report, Americans age 60 and older reported losses of $7.7 billion — a 60 percent increase from 2024.
People of all ages filed more than one million internet crime complaints with the FBI last year, with reported fraud losses climbing to $20.9 billion — a 26 percent increase over 2024. The alarming increase is one reason TARCOG holds an annual Fraud & Scam Summit to help the community learn about the most common scams and how to outsmart fraudsters.
TARCOG and the Marshall County Council on Aging hosted this year’s event. Tammy McElroy, director of the Marshall County Council on Aging, emceed the event and said she was happy to see so many people attend.
During the summit, attendees learned:
- How to recognize and avoid common scams
- Identity theft prevention tips
- Steps to take when you suspect financial abuse
- Key contacts and reporting agencies for immediate help
Attendees also had an opportunity to participate in a virtual AI fraud simulation exercise to test their knowledge and skills.
This year’s featured speaker was Alabama Securities Commission Communications and Public Relations Manager Nick Vonderau. During his presentation, “Self Defense Class: Learn How To Protect Yourself And Others From Fraud,” he said Alabama ranks 14th in the nation for fraud reports— and 16th for identity theft reports.
Among the Top 10 fraud reports categories, Vonderau said recent statistics show investment-related scams caused the largest losses with 118,960 victims reporting a median loss of $9,000.
A simple call to the ASC can help people from becoming a victim, he said. “Before you invest, check it out,” Vonderau said. “Call our office at 1-800-222-1253.”
Other speakers who participated in a question-and-answer panel included:
- Bryan Andrews,elder law attorney, Legal Services Alabama
- John East,deputy chief, Guntersville Police Department
- Robert Fann,investigator, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office
- Maya D. Martin,DSW, outreach coordinator, Alabama A&M University Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program
- Karen Reeves,president and CEO, Better Business Bureau of North Alabama
- Tyler Young,fraud investigator, Emblem Credit Union
Several exhibitors were on hand to provide resources to attendees, including Alabama A&M University, Alabama Securities Commission, As Close As Family, Ashley Collier Agency, Inc., Better Business Bureau of North Alabama, Better Health Group, CASA, Cornerstone Caregiving, Community Action, Emblem Credit Union, RSVP, TARCOG, United Way of Marshall County, and VIP Care.
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at TARCOG empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report health care fraud, errors and abuse.
Videos from the summit will be posted to TARCOG’s YouTube channel. Anyone wanting more information about preventing fraud and scams may contact TARCOG’s Senior Medicare Patrol at 256-830-0818.
The 2026 Fraud & Scam Summit was held at the Marshall County RSVP building in Guntersville on Tuesday, Aug. 25.