Spring has sprung and with warmer weather comes home repairs. Unfortunately, shady contractors are out there looking for homeowners in the market for spring repairs. Contractor fraud and home improvement scams can cost homeowners thousands of dollars and leave them with shoddy workmanship, unfinished projects, or even damage to their homes. Scammers often target older adults, but anyone can fall victim to these scams.
In 2023, Americans reported losing more than $10 billion to fraud—ranging from romance and investment schemes to gift card scams—according to Federal Trade Commission data. A new state law aims to protect older Americans from financial exploitation.
AARP Connecticut – advocates for age 50+ Connecticut residents and their families – works with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support legislation and issues that make our state a great place to live for people of all ages.
AARP will hold a town hall on holiday scams with the Better Business Bureau of Connecticut, among a number of initiatives to raise public awareness of fraud.
Small businesses are increasingly becoming targets of scammers. One of the best ways to keep your business and customer base safe is to stay informed about the different techniques used by people who try to take advantage of small companies. This is especially important for New England small businesses, since many of the states in the Northeast, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, are among states where the most small businesses are created (per capita).