Week In Review

This week, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, the Drug Enforcement Administration and I announced the results of a three-month law enforcement operation to take down a violent gang trafficking massive amounts of deadly fentanyl in Florida. Operation Checkmate led to the arrest of 21…

This week, I announced a legislative push to permanently outlaw Frankenstein opioids in Florida. These highly lethal synthetic opioids are also known as nitazenes—some of which are many times more deadly than fentanyl. Last year, when we first heard about these deadly synthetic opioids, my…

This week, we recognized Valentine’s Day and issued an important Consumer Alert for those looking for love online. Romance scams cost Americans more than $1 billion last year and that number is expected to go even higher as more and more people use the internet to search for their perfect match…

This week, following the Chinese spy balloon saga, I cautioned Florida parents about another potential security risk—China-owned social media company TikTok. My office is actively investigating the popular social media app over its harmful effects on children, engagement techniques and data…

This week, at a ceremony in The Villages, we recognized five outstanding Seniors vs. Crime volunteers as Super Senior Sleuths, as well as the 2021-22 Senior Sleuth Advocate of the Year. Super Senior Sleuths are volunteers who go above and beyond in advocating and assisting older consumers in…

This week, I recognized National Data Privacy Week by issuing a Consumer Alert to help Floridians secure and protect personal information. According to reports, data breaches exposed approximately 22 billion records worldwide last year. We also know hackers and cybercriminals are always looking…

This week, I presented Back the Blue Awards to Florida Highway Patrol Troop A for their courageous efforts to rescue a victim from human trafficking. While responding to a highway pursuit, Troopers rescued a young girl being transported across the state by a dangerous criminal. The trafficker, a…

This week, I visited the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts & Comptroller office to thank them for joining our fight to stop human trafficking. Six hundred and fifty employees in the clerk’s office recently received anti-human trafficking training—marking the highest number of trainees of…

This week, standing on the steps of our Historic state capitol, I took the oath of office to serve a second term as Florida’s Attorney General. It is such an honor to be entrusted with the colossal responsibility to support, protect and defend our Constitution, the sovereignty of the State of…

This week, we warned Floridians about the dangers of drinking and driving, and debunked a few myths surrounding impaired driving. Impaired driving is a serious threat to the safety of everyone on our roadways. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is reporting more than 5,…

This week, we warned Floridians about the 12 Schemes of Christmas. It’s a busy time of year for shoppers, retailers and delivery companies as millions of gifts are sold, shipped and delivered. It’s also a busy season for scammers concocting schemes to exploit the holiday demand. Our 12 Schemes…

This week, we announced the launch of a massive, statewide child safety initiative. On average, more than 800,000 children go missing nationwide every year—with FDLE reporting more than 25,000 incidents of missing children statewide in 2021. When a child goes missing, time is one of the most…

This week, I added an urgent alert to our One Pill Can Kill webpage. For years, we have warned about the prevalence of fentanyl in the nation’s illicit drug supply. New statistics now show that the proliferation of deadly fentanyl is getting much worse. A recent report by the Drug Enforcement…

It is International Fraud Awareness Week, and I am encouraging Floridians to stay up to date on the latest scams and take preventative measures to avoid falling victim. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission reported that a typical fraud case in Florida resulted in the loss of more than $500.…

This week, our nation will celebrate Veterans Day. As we recognize this important occasion, please join me in thanking the valiant men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces, including the more than 1.5 million that call Florida home. The rights and freedoms we enjoy today were won and…

This week, Florida TaxWatch named the Florida Attorney General’s Office the State Agency of the Year as part of the organization’s Productivity Awards program. I proudly accepted this prestigious recognition on behalf of our entire agency. This is such a honor for our agency, and winning the…

As Halloween approaches, I am warning parents about the dangers posed by rainbow fentanyl. This week, I visited the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and met with law enforcement and parents who lost children to this deadly drug. Law enforcement nationwide is seizing bright-colored fentanyl…

This week, we launched the virtual 2022 Human Trafficking Summit. Our annual summit provides participants with hours of educational content and presentations by experts about the latest in the fight to end human trafficking and help survivors heal. This year, former Major League Baseball player…

Just a few weeks ago, Hurricane Ian ripped through our state destroying homes, critical infrastructure and even claiming lives. As the rebuild efforts continue, I want to remind Floridians that our Price Gouging Hotline remains active, and my Rapid Response Team continues to quickly address…

This week, I sent Consumer Protection investigators to Lee County to help those who may be encountering recovery-related scams or price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Ian destroyed homes and displaced thousands of Floridians. Rebuilding in some of the hardest hit areas will likely take…