Millions of people throughout the world fall victim to a scam or fraud every year. Many of these victims are the elderly, who can ill afford to lose any of their fixed income to these crooks.

Many agencies are tasked with investigating such crimes, but authorities agree the best way to prevent becoming a victim is to become better educated about scams and frauds. Some of the top scams, according to the FBI, are: telemarketing frauds, offering deals that seem to be too good to be true (they are); foreign country letters offering you the opportunity to share in a percentage of millions of dollars; identity theft; advance fee schemes, where you send money to get more money; health care/health insurance fraud; Ponzi schemes; and pyramid schemes.A Scam Jam prevention seminar has been scheduled for Wednesdayin Tamaqua to provide information to local residents. Organized by Independent Living Services, AARP, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities and the Tamaqua Salvation Army, the event will feature a number of guest speakers, an investment fraud bingo, free take home resources, tips to avoid becoming a scam victim and the opportunity to win prizes.The Scam Jam will be held from 9:45 a.m. to noon (possibly later) at the Tamaqua Salvation Army, 105 W. Broad St., Tamaqua. Preregistration is required and check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast. Lunch will also be provided at 12:15 p.m.For more information or to register, call ILS at 888-837-4235.