By The office of Senator Rick Scott As a member of the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senator Rick Scott is fighting to protect Florida’s seniors from fraud and was proud to host a Senate Aging Hearing in the Villages with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on the growing risk of financial scams. The Internal […]
Category Archives: Fraud
24
Jun
Jun
Building a backyard pool is expensive, but Diana Decker of Westlake had saved up for it. In 2020, she thought she gave her investment to a reputable company, Villa Pavers and Pools. “It makes you not want to trust anybody anymore,” said Decker in 2021. A state investigation found that the company and its owner, […]
04
Apr
Apr
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes in the United States. ID theft occurs when someone steals another person’s personal information. According to a 2024 Consumer Affairs Report: “2024 Identity Theft Statistics”, Identity theft has soared 584% over the last 20 years. How is illegally obtained personal data used? Fraudsters are known […]
24
Feb
Feb
Have you ever been the victim of a crime or scam? For many seniors, the answer is, “Yes, I have!” There are several reasons that seniors are more likely than younger adults to be targeted for scams. Criminals think (sometimes correctly) that seniors are less tech-savvy and more susceptible than younger people. Scammers exploit these […]
04
Dec
Dec
Did you know that seniors are the population group most likely to be “scammed?” According to the Federal Trade Commission, American consumers were scammed out of 8.8 billion dollars in 2022. Seniors lost the most money compared to other age groups. Seniors are often targeted by scammer criminals for several reasons; they are thought to […]
02
Dec
Dec
OurSeniors Radio welcomes Anthony Luizzo, Volunteer for Seniors Vs Crime Program Volusia County and host Julian G. Cantillo. Tune in here: https://ourseniors.net/radio/seniors-vs-crime-december-2-2023/
27
Feb
Feb
When it comes to finding a contractor to hire, it can be overwhelming to know if you have found a trustworthy person. Everything may look good on paper and the person may sound professional and genuine over the phone, but how can you really know if they are the right person to trust? The Department […]
26
Feb
Feb
Last week we spoke about the arrests of over 100 people in Tampa, FL, for performing unlicensed contractor work. These individuals were advertising professional services to unsuspecting homeowners who needed affordable repair. The sting operation performed by the state of Florida was not the first, in hopes of catching unlicensed criminals. Law enforcement pursuits against […]
17
Feb
Feb
Breaking news! Over 100 people were arrested in Tampa, Florida, for selling unqualified contracting services. The “Operation House Hunters” in Hillsborough County focused on catching criminals who were taking advantage of the growing housing market. The fraudulent freelancers would advertise through social media platforms like Facebook or would post ads on Craigslist, even on their […]
23
Aug
Aug
Fraud against seniors has grown so rapidly in the past few decades its astonishing. This is due to a large number of Baby Boomers well into retirement and the belief that they have a meaningful amount of money in their accounts. All seniors are targeted by these criminals, not just the wealthy, and they usually […]