California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced on Tuesday a new collaboration between the Office of the Attorney General and AARP California to protect seniors from abuse and fraud.
The collaboration will focus on educating seniors, their families and the general public about elder abuse and fraud laws designed specifically to protect those who are 50 and over.
“Seniors are one of the most vulnerable and targeted populations in our state,” Harris said. “My office is committed to holding accountable those who defraud, abuse or neglect our senior citizens. I am pleased to collaborate with AARP California to deepen our engagement with seniors and to ensure their protection from those who prey upon them.”
Specifically, the collaboration will include hosting tele-town halls and webinars, developing and disseminating consumer and educational resources to protect against scams and schemes and continuing to vigorously prosecute those who mistreat the elderly population in violation of state law, according to the State of California Department of Justice.
“AARP California, through its AARP Fraud Watch Network, is very pleased to join forces with the Office of the Attorney General so together we can further arm Californians with the tools they need to spot and avoid scams,” said Nancy McPherson, AARP CA state director. “The Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for people of all ages that offers real-time alerts about the latest scams in our state, along with a scam-tracking map where people can report on scams to alert their friends and neighbors.
Additionally, the AARP Fraud Watch Network provides advice to outsmart con artists and a helpline where Californians can talk to a trained volunteer for advice if they or someone they love has been scammed.”
