National Adult Protective Services Association’s (NAPSA’s) Monthly National Scam Advice Forum

Financial institutions are facing growing challenges in protecting client accounts from increasingly sophisticated transnational frauds and scams. As fraud schemes evolve across borders, banks must navigate complex legal, regulatory, and operational constraints while striving to safeguard vulnerable clients—particularly those who experience chronic revictimization.

Laurel Sykes will share practical insights from the front lines of risk management, including: legal and regulatory constraints that impact what institutions can and cannot do, strategies for supporting chronically revictimized individuals, and protective tools such as “trusted contacts” — and the limitations institutions may encounter when using them.

With over 30 years’ experience in the banking industry, Laurel currently serves as EVP, Chief Risk Officer for American Riviera Bank. She leads the Bank’s consumer compliance and anti-money laundering/financial crimes divisions, and oversees the Human Resources, Marketing and Product Management functions. Ms. Sykes has comprehensive executive-level experience in risk management, specializing in governance, internal audit, BSA/AML, compliance, CRA, financial privacy, fair lending, fraud management and elder financial abuse prevention, vendor management, business continuity planning, and human resources management. American Riviera Bank received a Community Commitment Award from the ABA in the Protecting Older Americans category in 2024, honoring the Bank’s financial elder abuse and fraud prevention program.