With holiday shopping underway and online spending expected to surge, Chase and CareerRise partnered this week to help Atlanta residents protect themselves from scams. The two organizations hosted a free fraud prevention workshop on Nov. 20 at CareerRise’s center on Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard, offering practical tools for community members and job seekers ahead of the busy season.
The event was part of Chase’s national effort for International Fraud Awareness Week, where the bank held similar scam prevention sessions across the country. Mathilda Lambert, a Chase community manager and financial wellness expert, said the goal was to prepare residents for a time of year when scammers tend to be most active.
“Everyone is at risk,” Lambert said. “People might be taking time off during the holidays, but scammers are not. This is their busy season. Our mission is to raise awareness and make sure people have the tools and resources to protect themselves.”
Fraud continues to grow as a threat. The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend nearly $900 per person this holiday season, with more than half of those purchases projected to happen online. In 2024, consumers lost more than 12.5 billion dollars to scams, and Georgia ranked 11th in the nation for cybercrime complaints.
CareerRise, a workforce development organization, noted that job seekers are especially at risk. Scammers often target people searching for employment with fake job listings, fraudulent offers, and phishing emails disguised as legitimate opportunities.
Lambert outlined several red flags discussed during the workshop, including fake package delivery texts, suspicious retailer links, messages that demand quick action, and scams that use AI-generated voices and images.
“Slow down,” she said. “If something feels off, do not act quickly. Go to the official website. Call the number on the back of your card. Verify everything.”
She also encouraged residents to keep important documents secure and review account alerts regularly so they can respond quickly if fraud occurs.
Chase and CareerRise announced that they plan to continue collaborating on educational programming focused on financial wellness and economic stability. Their shared priority is helping Atlanta residents protect the financial progress they are working to build, especially during a season when scammers are working the hardest.