AARP Tampa Bay’s Consumer Protection Fair at its Annual Day of Service

Each year, around 9/11, AARP shuts its doors, and goes out into the community to engage with their neighbors on a community service project. This year, AARP Tampa Bay worked with the Stetson University College of Law to host a Consumer Protection Fair as part of its enduring work to educate and protect seniors from fraud.

“We want to thank AARP for this day of service,” said Rebecca Morgan, J.D., Stetson University interim director at the center for excellence in elder law. “This year, they contacted us and we jumped at the opportunity and we’re so grateful to have them with us.”

Fraud against older adults, seniors and veterans is a serious issue particularly in Florida that is home to the largest number of people 65 and older in the nation. This population is particularly vulnerable due to issues such as social isolation and their own caregivers who knowingly or unknowingly may take advantage of them.
“We’ve partnered with Stetson Law because they have a wonderful elder law program” said Michelle Cyr, associate state director for advocacy and outreach in Tampa Bay. “Their staff, students and professors have extensive knowledge about senior exploitation and elder abuse making them experts in that field and great community partners.”
Attachment “Everyone needs to be vigilant to guard themselves and their personal information from all the bad folks out there,” Morgan said. “It’s important to know how these scams work and how to protect yourself. Be sure to sign up for the do-not-call list and be a smart consumer – always think first, protect your personal information, keep educating yourselves and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s not true.”

To learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud, visit www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.