In a effort to curb scamming of senior citizens, the town of Brantley is sponsoring an event to help seniors understand how to deal with and recognize scammers.

Councilwoman Judy Wooley said that recently there has been several local residents who have been targeted by different scams, and she thought is would be beneficial to do a seminar.

“A lot of these older people do not recognize our police officers,” she said. “It’s important that they know who they are.”

The Brantley Police Department along with a representative for the Attorney General’s office will discuss how to recognize and report various types of scams occurring in Brantley and surrounding areas.

Brantley Police Officer Terry Mears, like Wooley, wants to make sure that residents know what to do.

“Call me if someone comes to your door or call me if someone calls you,” he said.

Statistics from the FBI show that senior citizens should be aware of fraud schemes because they are most likely to have a “nest egg,” to own a home and have excellent credit.

Additionally the FBI said residents reared in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s were taught to be police and trusting, and that older Americans are least likely to report a fraud because they don’t know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or don’t know they have been scammed.

The event will be held Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. at the Bethany Center in Brantley.

The event is free to the public and everyone is welcome to attend.