AARP Pennsylvania

AARP Pennsylvania joined Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich in Scranton, Lackawanna County, today as the Governor signed an Executive Order empowering his Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich to take the steps necessary to establish a Master Plan for Older Adults.

AARP Pennsylvania volunteers lit up the phone lines today as part of a “Reverse Boiler Room,” dialing thousands of older Pennsylvanians to arm them with the information they need so they can be on the alert and protect themselves and their families from certain scams.

May is Older Americans Month – a time when the country pauses to recognize the contributions of past and present older persons to the country. This year’s theme - Aging Unbound - urges combating ageism and recognizing the benefits of older adults remaining engaged, independent, and included in their communities. Understanding that adults 50 and older want to remain living in their homes as they age, AARP Pennsylvania is taking time this month to raise awareness about caregiver fraud.

AARP Pennsylvania's new volunteer state president, Nora Dowd Eisenhower, 69, of Philadelphia, brings four decades of professional experience to the role. She says housing will be one of her top priorities.

Longwood Gardens will be in full bloom in May when AARP Pennsylvania hosts a free virtual tour of the Philadelphia-area treasure.

If there is one thing everyone should understand, it’s that “scammers” are career criminals skilled at the art of manipulation and no one is immune. These crooks target people of any age; in fact, 41% of those who reported a fraud loss to the Federal Trade Commission last year were under the age of 30. So, what can a person do if they experience fraud?

Spring has sprung and with warmer weather comes home repairs. Unfortunately, shady contractors are out there looking 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.

In collaboration with our Consumer Issues Task Force (CITF) - led by Chairperson Mary Bach and supported by Associate State Director of Community Outreach David Kalinoski - AARP Pennsylvania has a long and respected history of advocating to spread information and knowledge about frauds and scams.

Cutting corners to save money on your move could lead you right to a criminal scammer.

Gift card sales rose from $130 billion in 2015 to $173 billion in 2021, and while they are popular with consumers, they are also popular with criminals. In fact, researchers estimate that $40 to $50 billion is stolen from fraud victims in any given year.