Event offered by Gesher Human Services and sponsored by Huntington Bank!
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (Oct. 2025) – Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human service agencies in metro Detroit, is joining forces with Huntington Bank on Thurs. Nov. 13 to hold Golden Shield, a free and fun financial education event aimed at helping seniors avoid financial exploitation and guard against identify theft. The event will be held at Bowens Senior Center (52 Bagley St., Pontiac MI 48341) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and will include lunch, financial bingo with $10, $25 and $50 VISA and grocery gift cards as prizes, and importantly, talks from financial experts to protect seniors from ever-growing scams. A new report from Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice says that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly deceiving people with financial scams and these attacks particularly hurt seniors because they are more likely to have cognitive decline, be socially isolated or even be in a time of transition. Co-author Thomas Blomberg, dean of the college, said seniors were easy targets, often more affluent and were often less skeptical and believed someone’s word was their bond. Registration is required; to register for the free event click here, go to geshermi.org/events or call 248.233.4229.
Here in metro Detroit,
Laltsha Cunningham, Financial Education Manager at Gesher Human Services, gets two or three calls a week from seniors who have been victims of scams.
“It can be anything from clicking on a website that looks like it’s from a reputable company and then the senior provides lots of personal information or pays something they don’t owe, or it can be sending money or gift cards somewhere because they think they are speaking to a family member because AI is impersonating their voice,” said Cunningham
One local senior recently went to a phone repair shop which then used Cash App on the senior’s phone to pay themselves $150. Another scam Cunningham has seen has been fake bills from medical supply companies; because many seniors use products from these companies, they assume the bill is legitimate.
Cunningham said the Golden Shield event was being held at a senior facility to make it as accessible as possible and hoped it would become an annual event. Participants do not have to be members of the facility.
In addition to offering advice on avoiding scams,
the event will also provide useful information on how to plan for unexpected life events with advice on budgeting, plus prepare for financial disasters. It will also provide helpful resources for managing money and how to report financial exploitation.
“We are holding the event close to Thanksgiving as we want to give thanks for our seniors for all they do, but also ensure that they are protected as well,” added Cunningham. “We are very grateful that Huntington Bank is supporting this effort to safeguard our seniors’ finances with an event that we know will also be enjoyable.”
For more information call 248.233.4299 or financialhelp@geshermi.org.
About Gesher Human Services
Gesher Human Services is a non-profit organization providing a bridge to hope and opportunity for people at work, at home, and in the community. It is dedicated to helping people across metro Detroit lead more stable and fulfilling lives through workforce development, career mobility, behavioral health, inclusion programming, and residential services that serve all metro Detroiters while meeting the needs of the Jewish community. The organization works with job seekers, individuals with disabilities, older adults, and the broader community to provide the skills, support, and equitable opportunities necessary for people to succeed. Gesher draws on over 110 years of combined experience to facilitate equitable employment opportunities and enhance mental health outcomes for Metro Detroiters. With a network of almost 500 employees and volunteers across more than 25 locations in southeast Michigan, Gesher delivers a continuum of services and support that directly impacts the lives of nearly 34,000 individuals and families annually. More information at www.geshermi.org.