Scams & Fraud

Veterans Day is a time to celebrate those who have fought for our country, and now AARP Florida is fighting for you. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers stole $414 million from veterans, active duty service members and their families in 2022. Since you have sacrificed so much for our freedom, your money shouldn’t be sacrificed as well. Take a look at some common scams targeting military service members and veterans, and some best practices on how to defend yourself:

Social media has become a dangerous marketplace. Scammers are great at creating slick ads and professional looking websites and for minimal cost they can force them into your feed.

Scammers are like viruses: they continually evolve in response to the latest news and trends. Here are two scam variations that experts have seen trending so far in 2023.

Scammers are always at work, trying to get your personal information or your money. And with the holidays upon us, there is a wide array of holiday sales scams or other tricks by con artists out there.

Scammers are like viruses: they continually evolve in response to the latest news and trends. Here are two scam variations that experts have seen trending so far in 2023.

AARP Pennsylvania strongly urges Medicare beneficiaries to exercise extra caution during this year's Medicare Open Enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7. A recent data breach involving a government contractor put an alarming number of Medicare beneficiaries at risk, heightening the importance of vigilance during a time already susceptible to fraudulent activities.

One of the most nefarious scams today is bank impersonation. Money stolen through these schemes is rarely recoverable, so it’s particularly important to be aware of this scam and share what you know with others.

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AARP Virginia has hosted several Scam Jams and Shred Fests in the Northern Virginia area recently. On Oct. 11, the event that shines a light on fraud and scams was held in Woodbridge at the Harbour Grille. Immediately following the half-day event, attendees could shred their documents outside at a shred truck.

When we think about cybersecurity we may think about computers and smart phones. But the reality is everything from our TVs to thermostats to appliances are potentially vulnerable to hackers. In this new normal, online safety is a must so remember - smart devices need smart security.