Holiday Fraud: Chase Bank Trains Gentilly Seniors on Scam Defense
A local workshop in New Orleans offered practical advice for protecting finances as Louisiana residents report over $101 million in losses for 2025.
By Harper Collins ·
Seniors in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans attended a financial safety workshop hosted by Chase Bank this week. The session focused on identifying common fraud tactics before the holiday shopping season peaks.
Diana Holmes, a Chase Bank vice president and community manager, led the educational program. She identified the senior demographic as the most vulnerable target for fraudsters. Holmes advised attendees to keep their digital devices updated and to delete applications or accounts that are no longer in use.
Participants received specific guidance on digital hygiene. Holmes warned against sharing sensitive financial details with public artificial intelligence tools or unapproved software. She emphasized the necessity of enabling multifactor authentication to secure online accounts. This extra security layer requires users to maintain accurate contact information, including current phone numbers and email addresses.
Nita Jefferson, a New Orleans resident, said the workshop provided useful strategies for her personal shopping habits. Jefferson described her own method for handling suspected scam calls. She told attendees she gives scammers a police number to call back, a tactic she believes reduces the frequency of unwanted calls.
National data underscores the financial impact of these schemes. The Federal Trade Commission reported that Louisiana consumers lost more than $101 million to fraud and scams in 2025. Christopher Gallardo Jr., a Chase relationship banker, noted that he assists clients with these issues at least once or twice a day. He observed that while some customers recover partial funds, outcomes vary.
Jennifer Dupree, a captain with the New Orleans Police Department, joined the discussion to offer law enforcement perspective. Dupree advised that victims do not need to engage with scammers who contact them. She recommended that if a call comes from an unknown number, recipients should hang up and call back to verify the caller's identity.
The session concluded with a review of the key steps for preventing account takeovers. Attendees were reminded that fraud differs from simple scams in how recovery is handled. Holmes stated that while recovering money from a scam is uncertain, two-factor authentication helps verify the account holder during fraud attempts.
