Plymouth Township Police Chief James H. Knittel Jr. and a federal investigator will walk local seniors through the most common fraud schemes targeting older adults at a free presentation on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Friendship Station.

Knittel and Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Detective Jackson Chalmers will cover the top 10 current fraud scams, identity theft tactics, how perpetrators choose their targets, and steps residents can take to protect themselves. The event begins at 10 a.m. at the senior center, 42375 Schoolcraft Road. It is free and open to the public.

The presentation comes as elder fraud losses are surging nationally. The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center report found that more than 201,000 victims aged 60 and older lost a combined $7.7 billion that year, a 37% increase over 2024. The average loss per victim exceeded $38,000, according to AARP's summary of the report.

Plymouth Township's demographics make the issue especially relevant locally. Census data cited at an April 2025 Board of Trustees meeting showed 23% of the township's population is over 65. The township's 2023 Parks and Recreation Master Plan puts the share of residents at pre-retirement age or older at more than 33%.

Chalmers works out of the Plymouth Township Police Department's Homeland Security Investigations Task Force, one of several specialized units within the 33-officer department, according to a 2025 Michigan law enforcement accreditation report. Knittel, who became chief in May 2022 after nearly 31 years at the Farmington Hills Police Department, has made senior outreach a stated priority. In a June 2022 profile published by Henry Ford College when he took the job, Knittel said, "We want to help our community, especially our senior community, and provide them with programs to help them identify fraudulent activity in order to be proactive with that."

The event is organized by the Plymouth Community Council on Aging, which operates Friendship Station. The PCCA's August newsletter promotes the presentation alongside the announcement that Director Bobbie Pummill will retire Sept. 30 after 20 years leading the council.

Attendance is free. Residents are asked to RSVP by calling 734-354-3222. Seniors who need a ride can book curb-to-curb transportation through Plymouth Township's senior transit program at 734-459-8888; reservations require at least two business days' advance notice.

A follow-up session on Medicare fraud and abuse, led by Senior Alliance speaker Mary Traub, is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. at Friendship Station.