NEWS RELEASE: DCCA Promotes SmartCheck Scam Jam Events to Educate Public about Financial Fraud

Posted on Apr 23, 2015 in BREG, News Releases

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

DAVID Y. IGE

GOVERNOR

CATHERINE P. AWAKUNI COLÓN

DIRECTOR

TY Y. NOHARA

SECURITIES COMMISSIONER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 23, 2015

DCCA Promotes SmartCheck Scam Jam Events to Educate Public about Financial Fraud

 HONOLULU – The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ (DCCA) Office of the Securities Commissioner announces SmartCheck Scam Jam events on Oahu and Maui as part of Financial Literacy Month. The free educational events are in partnership with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Department of the Attorney General Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, AARP Hawaii and BBB Serving Hawaii.

“We are excited to partner with CFTC and other local agencies to educate Hawaii investors about financial fraud prevention,” said Securities Commissioner Ty Nohara.  “The events are geared to provide insight for consumers to stay one step ahead of ever-changing marketplaces and scams.”

CFTC Consumer Outreach Officer Michael Herndon added, “Investors often overlook signs that an offer is potentially fraudulent, so it’s important for people to understand and improve their investing strategy. These educational events provide new tools and information to help protect investors from financial fraud.”

SmartCheck.gov provides easy access to free tools to check the background of financial professionals and stay informed on the latest fraud schemes – directly from those who regulate financial professionals.

CFTC SmartCheck is a campaign that connects investors to tools to check the registration, license, and disciplinary history of certain financial professionals. This collection of tools allows the responsible investor to check the credentials of financial professionals, uncover any past disciplinary history, and helps them stay ahead of scam artists with news and alerts. This campaign is central to the CFTC’s commitment to protecting investors through robust fraud prevention and investor education.

The SmartCheck Scam Jam exhibitors will provide free educational materials on investor and consumer protection, understanding credit, planning for retirement, taxes, identity theft and avoiding being a victim of financial fraud.

Schedule of Events:

Wednesday, April 29 (Oahu)

McKinley High School Cafeteria

  • 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • No registration required

Thursday, April 30 (Maui)

Maui Beach Hotel, Elleair Ballroom

Friday, May 1 (Oahu)

Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom 1

Kahala Mall, Courtyard Area

  • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • No registration required

For more information about SmartCheck Scam Jam events, call DCCA’s Investor Education Specialist Theresa Kong Kee at (808) 587-7400.  

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