Protecting Your Home, Car and Retirement Savings

Protecting Your Home, Car and Retirement Savings
How Consumers and Policy Makers
Can Stop Financial Fraud
Thursday, October 22, 2009

This forum brought consumer activists, industry representatives and state/federal officials together to look at how fraud impacts financial security, especially for older Americans—and explore innovative solutions and policy options for combating these scams. Luncheon speaker SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro announced new SEC initiatives against fraud and investigation into the suitability of investment products for seniors.

Read a transcript of the event

Panelists at the forum included:

FIGHTING INVESTMENT FRAUD: FOSTERING COMPLIANCE AND ASSURING ENFORCEMENT

Jeff Cruz, Senor Policy Advisor, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
David Massey, President-elect, North American Securities Administrators Association
Andres Castillo, Project Manager for Financial Security, AARP
Len Bach, AARP Investment Seminar “Free Lunch” Monitoring Program
Cristina Martin Firvida, Director, Government Relations for Economic Security, AARP, Moderator

STOPPING FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS AND MORTGAGE FRAUDS

Chuck Harwood, Deputy Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
Marietta Rodriguez, National Director, Homeownership Programs, NeighborWorks
Bill Gruhn, Chief, Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General, State of Maryland
Kathleen E. Keest, Senior Policy Counsel, Center for Responsible Lending, Moderator

PREVENTING USED CAR FRAUD:  NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES

Larry Gamache, Communications Director, CARFAX
John Van Alst, Staff Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
Ivette Rivera, Executive Director for Legislation Affairs, National Automobile Dealers Association
Jacqueline Gillan, Vice President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Moderator

LUNCHEON SPEAKER: Mary L. Schapiro, Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission