Scams & Fraud

The numbers are in and last year was yet another historic year for fraud. The Federal Trade Commission released its annual compendium of fraud reports from 2023, and the news is shocking. For the first time ever reported theft through fraud topped $10 billion. The total is 14% higher than what was reported in 2022 and 5 times greater than reported losses in 2019. Key takeaways from the report include:

Improve your defense to stop criminals & enter for a chance to win Hartford Yard Goats prizes and an Amazon Basics Miniature Shredder

New virtual presentation on scam prevention launches with steps consumers can take to protect themselves from identity theft.

AARP Connecticut – advocates for age 50+ Connecticut residents and their families – works with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support legislation and issues that make our state a great place to live for people of all ages.

AARP will hold a town hall on holiday scams with the Better Business Bureau of Connecticut, among a number of initiatives to raise public awareness of fraud.

AARP Connecticut to Host Live Tele-Town Hall to Discuss Protecting Veterans from Scams

Be Aware of P2P Risks When Paying for Groceries, Other Services During Pandemic

Survey of Connecticut Residents Part of AARP Campaign Raising Awareness of Impostor Scams

Specific Survey of Connecticut Residents Part of AARP Campaign Raising Awareness of Most Common Seasonal Scams

Small businesses are increasingly becoming targets of scammers. One of the best ways to keep your business and customer base safe is to stay informed about the different techniques used by people who try to take advantage of small companies. This is especially important for New England small businesses, since many of the states in the Northeast, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, are among states where the most small businesses are created (per capita).