A lot of scams have gone around. The Branson Police Department is hosting a fraud prenvention seminar for seniors.

The full release is below:

(BRANSON, MO, December 8, 2025) The Branson Police Department is inviting the community to a free and informative Online Scams Workshop designed to help senior citizens protect themselves from the growing number of online and phone-based fraud schemes. The event will be held December 10, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Friendly Baptist Church, 2751 Kirkland Dr., Branson, MO 65616.

Led by Detective David Lingscheit of the department’s Investigative Service Unit, this workshop will empower attendees with knowledge and tools to recognize, avoid, and report scams that frequently target older adults.

The workshop will cover several types of scams currently targeting seniors, including:

• Text message, email, and invoice scams
• IRS and law enforcement impersonation scams
• Grandparent scams
• Lottery, sweepstakes, employment, and investment scams
• Romance scams
• Tech support scams
• Identity theft
• Practical fraud prevention measures

“Our goal is to make sure every member of our community feels confident and protected, especially those who are most often targeted by scammers,” said Branson Police Chief Eric Schmitt. “Criminals continue to evolve their tactics, and we want our residents to stay one step ahead. This workshop is part of our ongoing commitment to education, prevention and building trust with the people we serve. When our community is informed, our community is safer.”

Detective Lingscheit brings years of investigative experience and will walk participants through real examples, common red flags, and practical steps to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn where and how to report potential fraud attempts.

This event is free, open to all, and no registration is required.