MADISON, Wis. – With ever changing technology, con artists keep finding new tactics to scam people out of their hard earned cash or steal their identity.

Next month, Wisconsinites can learn from one of the best about how they can fight back.

Frank Abagnale is a reformed con artist who was depicted by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2002 movie "Catch Me if You Can."

Courtney Anclam, a senior program specialist with AARP Wisconsin, says Abagnale will be sharing his unique knowledge on how to spot and avoid scams at an upcoming event

"Between the ages of 16 and 21, Frank Abagnale was cashing millions in fraudulent checks,” Anclam states. “He's been working with the FBI as an adviser for over 40 years, he's written a number of books and a lot of different organizations use his information for training."

Abagnale will give a free presentation Sept. 12 at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison. Seats are limited so registration is required. More information can be found at aarp.org/wi.

AARP's online Fraud Watch Network also is a resource to help people learn about the latest frauds and scams going around.

Anclam says a popular one right now involves imposters who call and impersonate the Social Security Administration or the IRS.

"They'll say, 'You owe us money, and if you don't pay, we're going to send the police to your home,'” she relates. “They use a lot of fear and intimidation to get people to either give up personal information or to send them money directly."

Anclam says anyone can become a fraud victim, as young people are scammed just as often as older people.

"But we find that the older population has a lot more money to lose, and so they're often targeted more often by scammers, so it's really important for them to recognize the signs and know what to do if they do find themselves in that situation," she explains.

Along with identify theft and financial fraud, Anclam adds that cybercrimes are rapidly growing in Wisconsin and across the country.

Wisconsinites can better protect their digital identity by putting a security freeze in place with the three credit bureaus; setting up online access to all financial accounts and regularly monitoring them; and using unique passwords for each account.

A bill in the Maryland General Assembly would regulate cryptocurrency kiosks, the more than 700 ATM-like machines for virtual currencies around the state.

The FBI received more than 4,400 complaints about the kiosks in 2023, according to a report on cryptocurrency scams. Nearly 60% of complaints came from people over the age of 60.

The legislation would establish registration and operating requirements for the kiosks in the state, enforced by the Commissioner for Financial Regulation.

Tammy Bresnahan, senior director of advocacy for AARP Maryland, said crypto kiosks have become a new way for scammers to target people.

"These kiosks have become a haven for scammers to call people to say, 'There's a problem with your account. You need to take money -- $4,500 in cash -- and deposit it into this nearby cryptocurrency kiosk because your account has been compromised,'" Bresnahan explained.

The total losses from cryptocurrency kiosks in 2023 exceeded $150 million.

The FBI advised no legitimate law enforcement or government agency would call or message demanding payment with a cryptocurrency. Bresnahan pointed out one of the issues with kiosks is they are not required to provide a user a receipt for their transaction, making them hard to track.

"Operators must clearly disclose transaction fees and exchange rates," Bresnahan urged. "And there has to be some kind of receipt. It doesn't have to be a printed receipt, but it has to be some kind of detailed receipt, whether it's on the system or whether it comes out printed. Because, right now, when you put money in there, you don't get anything."

Other states, like Minnesota and Vermont, have already passed legislation regulating virtual currency kiosks.

A local "Meals on Wheels" organization is forging ahead with an event to provide meals and personal care items to seniors in four Illinois counties, despite the looming uncertainty about federal funding helping to run the programs.

"March for Meals" brings community members and elected officials together, who volunteer to deliver and serve nutritious meals to seniors in Cook, Grundy, Kendall and Will counties.

Caitlin Wilson, manager of the Schaumburg Community Café, said they also help pack care bags to deliver to those who are homebound.

"Just to know that they're not alone," Wilson explained. "That we are here and they're not left just at home, that we are thinking about them."

Nationally, March for Meals commemorates the Older Americans Act and the funding it provides for nutrition programs for people in their 60s and older. The Illinois March for Meals event is March 31 at the Schaumburg Community Café.

Seniors make up about 22% of Illinois' population. Many statewide programs, including Meals on Wheels, rely on federal funding to keep running.

Every five years, Congress needs to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The last time it happened was in 2020 and the funding expired in Sept. 2024. Wilson said the need is clear, even if its future is unclear under the new administration.

"We have seniors that come that this is their only source of socialization and even nutrition," Wilson pointed out. "It's definitely important that we continue our goal in the community, because we have those seniors that really depend on these programs."

Wilson added events like these are crucial to raising awareness about the need for senior services, and this year, the additional challenge of potential federal funding cuts.

"It's definitely a huge program and it is a huge impact, with the seniors not sure what's going on and what's going to happen," Wilson emphasized. "But we are here and it's important that we stay here."

Michigan is home to more than 470,000 veterans, yet many have never accessed the military benefits to which they are entitled. The gap in support prompted a local war veteran to take action.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 200 Michigan veterans died by suicide, well above the state's average, and the number is growing.

Joshua Parish, president of the nonprofit service organization VETLIFE and an Iraq War veteran, is working to change it. His organization, which started in 2018, provides veterans with sustainable resources, free events and community support to help them navigate civilian life. Parish said one of their flagship events called VetFest attracts more than 3,000 people at each event.

"We have 60 resource providers that help connect the dots," Parish explained. "What we're seeing is one month after the VetFest event, a 60% increase in veterans going down to their local resources, which is what we want."

Parish emphasized his main goal is to educate and empower veterans to be their own best advocate. He believes by doing so, it will decrease the veteran suicide rate.

More than 8 million U.S. veterans are 65 and older, nearly half of the veteran population. Many face isolation, depression and struggles transitioning to civilian life, even decades later. As a veteran, Parish has battled mental health challenges himself. He added many feel a loss of purpose and betrayed by the government they once served.

"If you can give these veterans or help cultivate the sense of purpose, the sense of identity, and just make them feel like a person again, I feel like that's going to drastically reduce the veterans' suicide rate," Parish contended.

Many veterans rely on VA pensions, Social Security or disability benefits, making it crucial for them to know and access the resources they have earned.