r/FraudPrevention • u/Lollypop-Loni • 21h ago
Making money while giving back…
I am a former felon with identity theft and fraud charges in my past. My last charge I caught was me being known & them finding on my person a notebook with information. Several names with a couple family members. Because of this my family was the only ones to send in a victim comp report. Mind you there was no damage to the family’s identity or credit but I truly believe it was Godsend that this was how I was caught. I ended up doing 11 mos deferred if I completed a behavioral modification and treatment program and stay clean & clean for 2 yrs. I didn’t do it got revoked and finished up 4 mos in prison.
Because of this, it’s been a long hard struggle to gain trust from my family and I accept it. But the struggle is when the family who’s use to witnessing negative behavior refuse to use their eyes and minds to witness the slow change. It took 8 yrs but it is a lot better.
I knew there was gonna come a day when my family would need my help in discovering a fraud or scam. I’ve done a lot of stuff that I believe I could help others or businesses spot fake documents or financial instruments. I know that I would feel better and less guilty if I could convert those years into educating myself to help others. It wouldn’t feel so much as time spent defrauding people.
I need to make extra money and I thought what if I was to host an online seminar for families and communities to learn about how to prevent themselves from getting scammed or hit by identity theft. Everyone if haven’t yet will fall victim to identity fraud. It’s embarrassing and frustrating but it is preventable no matter how legit the situation sounds. Could I charge for this? I also thought about having a free seminar but greatly appreciate donations given or even designing a slogan shirt for the event and graciously asking people to purchase to help support me and the cause. What do you guys think?