Over the past year, the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) has been actively engaged in the Debt Campaign, focusing on connecting with and understanding the financial challenges faced by older adults in the southwest Chicago area. Through numerous relational meetings with seniors in the community, SWOP organizers have sought to organize around the financial burdens that older adults experience and gather firsthand insights on seniors economic needs. These conversations revealed an unexpected but significant area of concern among seniors: the threat of scams targeting their financial stability. This awareness quickly highlighted the need for focused efforts to protect seniors from financial scams and ensure they have the resources to avoid predatory tactics.

As a result of these findings, SWOP organizers decided to expand the Debt Campaign to include scam avoidance education tailored to the needs of seniors. By collaborating with senior facilities throughout the southwest side of Chicago, SWOP is creating safe spaces for seniors to learn about scam prevention and share their experiences with one another. The sessions cover essential areas of scam prevention, from phone scams to email scams, and even the increasing prevalence of social media scams on platforms like Facebook. This proactive approach demonstrates SWOP's commitment to adapting its initiatives to meet the emerging concerns of community members, ultimately providing a more comprehensive support system for local seniors.

The first class took place on October 23rd, 2024, at the Churchview Senior Living Facility, marking the beginning of a four-part educational series designed to equip seniors with the skills to identify and avoid scams. Each session addresses a specific type of scam, allowing participants to develop a deep understanding of the different tactics used by scammers and build confidence in safeguarding their personal information.

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