NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As the holidays approach, the Tennessee Department of Commerce warns buyers that if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Tennessee's high ranking for fraud and financial abuse complaints to the Federal Trade Commission has motivated local groups to come together to help prevent scams.

Kevin Walters, communications director at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, said it's a real challenge.

"Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They are cunning and they're ruthless and, a lot of times, they're anonymous,” Walters said. “And they can use technology to cloak phone numbers to hide their location."

He said this year, cases of fraud and financial abuse are up more than 33 percent statewide.

Doing research on special offers and charitable groups is key, especially during the holiday season. Walters warned that scammers use these organizations as a cover to take advantage of a person's good nature - and it's okay to say "no" to giving your financial information to anyone over the phone.

"If someone's contacting you to get that information and you've never spoken to them before, and they're calling you out of the blue, again, that's a red flag that they're probably after more than just a donation to their charity,” he said. “They're probably after much more than that, and it could lead to some real problems down the road for you and your family."

In 2017, the FTC said Tennesseans filed more than 43,000 fraud reports, totaling losses of almost $14 million.

Walters added seniors and adults with disabilities are among the most vulnerable targets for scams. TDHS Adult Protective Services received more than 4,000 complaints of financial exploitation in the past year.

"So, the problem of fraud and identity theft is growing, across Tennessee and all segments of the population, in particular for elderly and vulnerable adults,” Walters said.

He said it's important to report scams to local law enforcement, and get information from the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.


get more stories like this via email

A Nevada bill would make changes to adult guardianship by prioritizing less restrictive approaches.

Sen. Melanie Scheible, D-Las Vegas, the bill's sponsor, explained Nevada law promotes "supportive decision-making," a contract between a protected person and a supportive partner. She said the approach allows people to keep a level of independence and power when making important legal, financial and health care decisions.

Scheible pointed out the new measure would require Nevada courts to first explore the option or other less restrictive alternatives before a guardian is appointed.

"It requires the judge to put on the record, why, if they are going to appoint a guardian, they are doing that in lieu of a supportive decision-making agreement," Scheible outlined. "What about this person's capabilities makes them unfit to be in a supportive decision-making arrangement?"

The legislation would also require the review of guardianships being transferred from outside the state into Nevada. Backers of the bill said state standards are not all the same and want to ensure guardianship is truly warranted. The bill was heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee this week and has not faced opposition so far.

Jonathan Norman, advocacy, outreach and policy director for the Nevada Coalition of Legal Services Providers, said he supports the measure because he wants people in the state to retain as many rights as they can when receiving medical care.

"SB 346 will lead to fewer unnecessary guardianships," Norman contended. "Many adults and seniors with disabilities find themselves facing the rest of their lives in a court-ordered guardianship, not because they need it but because less restrictive alternatives were not fully explored."

Ellen Marquez is the mother of Alysa Marquez, 22, who has Down syndrome. She said guardianship has been "the default" for too long. She believes while guardianship has its place, it can also strip people of their rights.

"If we all rely on guidance from trusted sources, why shouldn't individuals with disabilities and older adults have the same opportunity?" Marquez asked.


get more stories like this via email

Oregonians have saved nearly $350 million for retirement through OregonSaves, a program allowing employees without workplace plans to automatically contribute to an individual retirement account.

Now, more than 60% of Oregon workers have access to a retirement savings plan, one of the highest rates in the country.

Bandana Shrestha, state director of AARP Oregon, said the group helped launch OregonSaves in 2017, the first program of its kind in the nation.

"It really is very wonderful that we were able to innovate and lead the country in a program that's so meaningful and so impactful," Shrestha emphasized. "I hope that people really take advantage of it."

Although more than 1 million private sector workers across the country have enrolled in state retirement savings programs, research shows nationwide one in five Americans over age 50 has no retirement savings.

Ryan Mann, executive director of the Oregon Treasury Savings Network, which oversees OregonSaves, said research shows people are 15 times more likely to save when it happens through a payroll deduction at their job.

"OregonSaves is attempting to fill that gap by providing a free way for employers to help their employees save," Mann explained. "Once they're enrolled in the program, an easy way for the workers to have it happen automatically."

Shresthra said retirement savings are not only important for individuals, they can also alleviate some of the financial pressures extended family or friends may feel who are providing care as people age, which can be costly.

"It gives you choices," Shresthra pointed out. "Both in terms of how you lead your life, but also how you are able to extend generosity and to give to your community, to your family. "

Research shows women, people of color and lower-wage workers are all less likely to have access to a traditional retirement account, and Mann said OregonSaves is designed to help close intergenerational wealth gaps. State residents can sign up and find more information at OregonSaves.com.

Pennsylvanians over age 50 are voicing concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency plans to cut 7,000 jobs from the U.S. Social Security Administration as part of its efforts to shrink the federal government and curb what it describes as waste and fraud.

More than one in five Pennsylvanians get monthly Social Security payments, according to AARP, almost 3 million people.

Nora Dowd Eisenhower, volunteer state president of AARP Pennsylvania, said all the changes have left many beneficiaries confused and worried about potential office closures, employee layoffs and reduced services.

"We are working to make sure that Americans receive the Social Security they have worked hard for and paid for over their entire working lives," Dowd Eisenhower emphasized.

Social Security benefits contribute almost $63 billion a year to Pennsylvania's economy through retirement, survivors and disability payments, according to AARP, all of which boost consumer spending, business sales, and job creation across the state.

Dowd Eisenhower pointed out the Social Security Administration had planned big changes to its phone services in March that would have caused delays and hassles but the decision was reversed this month after intense pushback. She noted AARP members have long been vocal about the need for better customer service from the Social Security Administration.

"Last year, four out of five older Americans, across party lines, supported increased funding for the Social Security Administration as a way to improve customer service," Dowd Eisenhower reported.

President Donald Trump's senior adviser Elon Musk claims Social Security could be cut by $500 billion to $700 billion without reducing benefits.

Dowd Eisenhower added AARP is urging Congress to make sure the Social Security Administration makes payments on time, as it has for nearly 90 years, and provides quality customer service by phone, online and in person.