Today’s presentation is part of an ongoing month-long campaign to raise consumer awareness of insurance fraud. It also continues the ongoing financial literacy campaign for seniors, launched in July 2012, in which Department staff speak to seniors about the many financial products geared toward them.

“Sadly, senior citizens are among our most vulnerable targets for insurance and financial fraud,” said Commissioner Kobylowski. “That is why we are here today, so that consumers in their golden years can enjoy their hard-earned retirement savings without falling prey to criminals.”

Commissioner Kobylowski provided detailed tips on avoiding insurance fraud. He also cautioned seniors when considering insurance-related financial products, such as annuities. He said that while many of these financial products are legitimate and useful, they can be wrongly directed toward seniors.

“Unfortunately, seniors are defrauded in this country by unscrupulous sales people and con-artists who do not have the customer’s best interests in mind,” said Kobylowski. “Your most important defense with unsolicited sales people either in person or over the phone is to simply say no.”