HARRISBURG, Pa., June 20,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, AARP Pennsylvania
recognized the Commonwealth's Attorney General Michelle Henry as a Community Fraud
Fighter of distinction. This distinction honors the dedication of
individuals who are actively working to combat the scourge of scams
and fraud targeting Pennsylvanians of all ages.
This spring, AARP offices across the country are honoring law
enforcement officers, lawmakers, state officials, and community
nonprofits who are engaged in keeping people and their money
safe.
"No matter your age or income, Pennsylvanians are under attack
each and every day from these criminals. They need strong allies
like Attorney General Henry involved in this fight," said AARP
Pennsylvania State Director, Bill
Johnston-Walsh.
"Protecting the most vulnerable members of our community has
been a guiding principle of my career. Scammers and other bad
actors are relentless in their efforts to get easy money, and they
never consider the harm they are inflicting on people," said
Attorney General Michelle Henry. "I
am so proud of everyone in my office who works so hard to fight
alongside me, whether through arresting scammers or working to hold
predatory companies accountable. Thank you for this great honor,
and please know that the Office of Attorney General will continue
to fight for you and your loved ones every single day."
Michele Henry was appointed
Attorney General in March 2023 to
serve as the Commonwealth's top lawyer and chief law enforcement
officer. Prior to this appointment, she served as First Deputy
Attorney General under former Attorney General and now Governor,
Josh Shapiro, where she was
responsible for overseeing all the Office's legal matters,
including criminal cases to seek justice for victims and public
protection cases fighting for the rights of Pennsylvania consumers.
During the past 15 months as Attorney General, Henry has
collaborated with the Pennsylvania
State Police to arrest scammers in two separate plots to defraud
and steal from older Pennsylvanians. Attorney General Henry has
also acted by filing lawsuits against companies that misled
patients and failed to notify them of their consumer rights.
Under Attorney General Henry's leadership, the Senior Protection
Unit has continued to investigate and prosecute those who cheat,
deceive, or abuse older Pennsylvanians; and the Senior Scam Program
continues to offer a variety of programs to provide older adults
and their families the information and tools needed to protect
themselves from the scams and fraud that are out
there, while encouraging them to report instances of
fraud and scams to the Attorney General's
Hotline.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Pennsylvanians lost a
reported $224.2 million to illegal
scams in 2023 and the average victim lost $440. However, these numbers only reveal a
fraction of actual theft from fraud, since the crime
is notoriously underreported. AARP Pennsylvania is focused on providing people of
all ages the tools to spot and avoid scams through AARP
Pennsylvania's Consumer Issues Taskforce.
The AARP Pennsylvania Consumer Issues Task Force is a statewide,
volunteer-based group that focuses on fraud and scam
prevention. The group has always enjoyed a great relationship
with the Office of Attorney General. This task force has delivered
over 60 presentations this year to nearly 3,000 individuals across
a wide array of community groups. In addition to community
presentations, the group is involved in Scam Jam events with
elected officials; hosting telephone town hall events; helping to
prevent identity theft through local shredding events; and
producing monthly educational videos on current fraud
and scam topics.
AARP Fraud Watch Network™ is a free
resource that equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot
and avoid scams, and connects those targeted by scams with our
fraud helpline specialists who provide support and
guidance on what to do next. Anyone can call the helpline at
877-908-3360. AARP Fraud Watch
Network™ also offers free, facilitated peer
discussion groups that seek to provide emotional support for those
experiencing fraud; and advocates at the federal,
state, and local levels to enact policy changes that protect
consumers and enforce laws.
About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose
how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38
million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for
what matters most to families: health security, financial stability
and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest
circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To
learn more,
visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow
@AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on
social media.
MEDIA CONTACT:
TJ Thiessen | tthiessen@aarp.org |
717-381-7420
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SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania