Week In Review
As more and more Floridians receive their COVID-19 vaccination, it is important to be on the lookout for an emerging scam in our state: vaccine survey scams. The Better Business Bureau has received reports of scammers contacting Floridians by email, text message and phone call offering…
Florida’s real estate market is red hot, and this week I issued a Consumer Alert to encourage Floridians who are looking to purchase a new home to watch out for real estate scams. One of the most common real estate scams is escrow wire fraud. This fraud occurs when scammers pose as…
The 2021 Hurricane Season starts next week, and with a possibly active season approaching, now is the time to make sure preparations are in place. Earlier this week, my office released the 2021 Hurricane Preparedness Guide—full of information about storms and tips to help Floridians get ready.…
This week, I was honored to present a Back the Blue Award to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office for making a special little boy’s dream come true. Jeremiah, who was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma before his fourth birthday, loves police officers and dreams of becoming a law enforcement…
This week, I was honored to present a Back the Blue Award to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office for making a special little boy’s dream come true. Jeremiah, who was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma before his fourth birthday, loves police officers and dreams of becoming a law enforcement…
Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck Florida last year, I have made it my mission to protect Floridians from scams and fraud related to the health crisis. Our Rapid Response Team mobilized and began taking reports from Floridians about outrageously priced essential commodities and scams. Through…
I’m excited to announce that our push to ensure greater senior protection in Florida is well under way. Thanks to Representative Colleen Burton and Senator Danny Burgess, our senior protection bill passed the full legislature this week! It’s no secret that Florida is a great place to retire.…
This week, I announced historic $26 billion nationwide agreements with major corporations that helped fuel the deadly opioid epidemic. These agreements follow years of aggressive litigation efforts led by my office and other states against AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson—the…
This week, I am urging Floridians to help fight the opioid epidemic by participating in the 20th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 24. This event is a great opportunity for Floridians to properly dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs or controlled substances.…
Protecting Florida’s more than 5 million seniors is one of my top priorities as Florida’s Attorney General. An important partner in this mission is the Seniors vs. Crime project. Seniors vs. Crime is made up of volunteers called Senior Sleuths that work to prevent crime and fraud involving…
This week, I am encouraging Floridians to remain vigilant against COVID-19 vaccine-related scams. Current reports suggest that more than a quarter of a million seniors are avoiding the COVID-19 vaccine due to misguided cost concerns perpetuated by scammers looking to steal personal and financial…
This week, we highlighted the tragic fact that the number of Florida law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty continues to increase at an alarming rate. It’s no secret that 2020 was a challenging year for frontline workers—including our brave law enforcement officers. The law…
As the nation recognized National Police Week, we used the occasion to highlight the bravery and courage it takes to be a frontline law enforcement officer. This week, I launched our new initiative, Thin Line Tribute, to recognize all that our frontline law enforcement officers do to protect the…
This week, I am warning parents of high school students about emerging standardized test preparation scams. Standardized testing is a stressful time for students and parents alike, and many parents will purchase test prep services for their children to ease this burden. Unfortunately, scammers…
This week, another round of direct stimulus payments from the Internal Revenue Service headed to eligible Floridians’ bank accounts and mailboxes as part of a massive COVID-19 relief bill. Ahead of the direct payments, I issued a Consumer Alert about a possible resurgence of stimulus payment…
This week, we were heartbroken to learn of the passing of another law enforcement hero, Tampa Police Department Officer Jesse Madsen. Already this year, Florida has lost eight brave law enforcement officers, compared to two during the same time period last year, and I am urging Floridians to…
This week is National Consumer Protection Week, a time to highlight our successes in fighting consumer fraud and provide resources to help Floridians avoid scams. COVID-19 has changed so much about our daily routines and provided more ways for scammers to target Floridians. As scams evolve, so…
This week, we announced a near-doubling of award money for anonymous tips on murder cases that lead to an arrest. This increase will take the maximum allowable award amount for actionable tips from $5,000 to $9,500. While Florida has enjoyed decades of declining crime rates statewide, some…
This week, in honor of Black History Month, let’s take a moment to remember three women who made a lasting impact on our state and nation. These trailblazing women are members of the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame—a signature project of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women—which is housed…
This weekend is Valentine’s Day, a time to spend quality time with your loved ones. However, if you are searching for companionship, make sure you are not being played by a scammer, especially when making a connection online. Romance scams prey on an individual’s desire for companionship and…