AARP Pennsylvania

This October is National Cyber Security month and AARP is focused on shining a light on the most prevalent online scams including celebrity impostors. Stars like Bruce Springsteen, Trace Adkins and Oprah Winfrey are among thousands of celebrities whose personas have been used by scammers online to solicit money from fans.

When it comes to the labor market, the supply of jobs is outpacing demand but that doesn’t mean that employment scams have gone away. Just because there are more job openings than job seekers doesn’t mean that criminals have closed up shop. With many Americans looking for a side hustle to help make ends meet or an opportunity to make more money or work remotely, there are still enough potential victims to fuel these schemes.

Within the next 10 years, Social Security could be cut by as much as 20 percent. Social Security isn’t free. We’ve earned it after a lifetime of hard work. It’s the largest source of retirement income for most Americans – including over two million retired Pennsylvanians - - helping them to put food on the table, pay utility bills, and put gas in the tank.

Some of the top scams are the ones that have been around the longest. One might think that a crime like the tech support scam, which has been around for 15 years, might fade away but it is more common than ever. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the tech support scam was reported by nearly 18,000 victims who had a combined $588 million stolen from them last year.

Last month Medicare announced that one of their contractors had been hacked and the personal information of 612,000 Medicare beneficiaries were stolen. The security breach put Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, health insurance claims, medical history notes, prescription information and other personally identifiable information at risk.

Philadelphia’s Center in the Park, a social and assistance hub for older adults, has transformed an office space that was no longer needed into a new gathering spot.

As communities band together to support those affected by natural disasters, AARP Pennsylvania remains vigilant against opportunistic scammers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities. Recognizing the need for awareness, AARP Pennsylvania is equipping residents with some tips to safeguard themselves from disaster-related scams.

Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich were AARP Pennsylvania’s guests on an August 25 TeleTown Hall aimed at encouraging older and disabled Pennsylvanians to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program this year and informing them of the historic enhancements to the PTRR program, which AARP Pennsylvania advocated for, that will take effect in 2024.

Recently, Governor Shapiro signed two significant bills - House Bill 1100 and House Bill 611. AARP Pennsylvania celebrates these legislative actions, which will bolster the well-being of older homeowners and renters, helping them stay in their homes and communities.

Nearly 200 Philadelphians joined AARP Pennsylvania and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare for "Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow" on July 26th.