Teaming Up to Fight Scammers in Texas

Rosie Reyes is motivated to make sure San Antonio Missions fans get more out of going to a Minor League Baseball game than just a fun night at the ballpark.

At Tuesday night home games, Reyes, 62, and a small group of fellow AARP Texas volunteers hand out giveaways like noisemakers but also share tips to help people protect themselves against fraud.

Reyes, who has worked at a credit union for the past 31 years, has seen enough attempted fraud to warn Texans, “If it’s too good to be true, it ain’t true.”

Sporting events are a key outreach tool in AARP Texas’ fraud prevention efforts. The organization has a presence at several games a year for the state’s Major League Baseball and NBA teams, as well as four Minor League Baseball teams.

“It’s a way to reach people where they wouldn’t expect to see us,” says Rosalinda Martinez, AARP Texas director of community strategy. “They enjoy the game, but they’ll remember AARP.”

In 2023, Texas consumers filed nearly 429,000 fraud, identity theft and other reports, according to Federal Trade Commission data. Fraud losses totaled $636.4 million over that period.

At games, fans who visit the AARP table can provide their email address or scan a QR code with their smartphones to be linked to information about fraud-fighting efforts.

AARP has helped make Tuesday Missions games one of the best attended days of the week, says David Gasaway, the team’s general manager.

AARP Texas this year is also planning telephone town halls to offer fraud prevention tips, as well as free shredding events around the state where Texans can safely dispose of sensitive documents to help protect against identity theft.

Learn more at aarp.org/tx.

—David Lewellen