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.


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A bill in the Maryland General Assembly would regulate cryptocurrency kiosks, the more than 700 ATM-like machines for virtual currencies around the state.

The FBI received more than 4,400 complaints about the kiosks in 2023, according to a report on cryptocurrency scams. Nearly 60% of complaints came from people over the age of 60.

The legislation would establish registration and operating requirements for the kiosks in the state, enforced by the Commissioner for Financial Regulation.

Tammy Bresnahan, senior director of advocacy for AARP Maryland, said crypto kiosks have become a new way for scammers to target people.

"These kiosks have become a haven for scammers to call people to say, 'There's a problem with your account. You need to take money -- $4,500 in cash -- and deposit it into this nearby cryptocurrency kiosk because your account has been compromised,'" Bresnahan explained.

The total losses from cryptocurrency kiosks in 2023 exceeded $150 million.

The FBI advised no legitimate law enforcement or government agency would call or message demanding payment with a cryptocurrency. Bresnahan pointed out one of the issues with kiosks is they are not required to provide a user a receipt for their transaction, making them hard to track.

"Operators must clearly disclose transaction fees and exchange rates," Bresnahan urged. "And there has to be some kind of receipt. It doesn't have to be a printed receipt, but it has to be some kind of detailed receipt, whether it's on the system or whether it comes out printed. Because, right now, when you put money in there, you don't get anything."

Other states, like Minnesota and Vermont, have already passed legislation regulating virtual currency kiosks.

A local "Meals on Wheels" organization is forging ahead with an event to provide meals and personal care items to seniors in four Illinois counties, despite the looming uncertainty about federal funding helping to run the programs.

"March for Meals" brings community members and elected officials together, who volunteer to deliver and serve nutritious meals to seniors in Cook, Grundy, Kendall and Will counties.

Caitlin Wilson, manager of the Schaumburg Community Café, said they also help pack care bags to deliver to those who are homebound.

"Just to know that they're not alone," Wilson explained. "That we are here and they're not left just at home, that we are thinking about them."

Nationally, March for Meals commemorates the Older Americans Act and the funding it provides for nutrition programs for people in their 60s and older. The Illinois March for Meals event is March 31 at the Schaumburg Community Café.

Seniors make up about 22% of Illinois' population. Many statewide programs, including Meals on Wheels, rely on federal funding to keep running.

Every five years, Congress needs to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The last time it happened was in 2020 and the funding expired in Sept. 2024. Wilson said the need is clear, even if its future is unclear under the new administration.

"We have seniors that come that this is their only source of socialization and even nutrition," Wilson pointed out. "It's definitely important that we continue our goal in the community, because we have those seniors that really depend on these programs."

Wilson added events like these are crucial to raising awareness about the need for senior services, and this year, the additional challenge of potential federal funding cuts.

"It's definitely a huge program and it is a huge impact, with the seniors not sure what's going on and what's going to happen," Wilson emphasized. "But we are here and it's important that we stay here."

Michigan is home to more than 470,000 veterans, yet many have never accessed the military benefits to which they are entitled. The gap in support prompted a local war veteran to take action.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 200 Michigan veterans died by suicide, well above the state's average, and the number is growing.

Joshua Parish, president of the nonprofit service organization VETLIFE and an Iraq War veteran, is working to change it. His organization, which started in 2018, provides veterans with sustainable resources, free events and community support to help them navigate civilian life. Parish said one of their flagship events called VetFest attracts more than 3,000 people at each event.

"We have 60 resource providers that help connect the dots," Parish explained. "What we're seeing is one month after the VetFest event, a 60% increase in veterans going down to their local resources, which is what we want."

Parish emphasized his main goal is to educate and empower veterans to be their own best advocate. He believes by doing so, it will decrease the veteran suicide rate.

More than 8 million U.S. veterans are 65 and older, nearly half of the veteran population. Many face isolation, depression and struggles transitioning to civilian life, even decades later. As a veteran, Parish has battled mental health challenges himself. He added many feel a loss of purpose and betrayed by the government they once served.

"If you can give these veterans or help cultivate the sense of purpose, the sense of identity, and just make them feel like a person again, I feel like that's going to drastically reduce the veterans' suicide rate," Parish contended.

Many veterans rely on VA pensions, Social Security or disability benefits, making it crucial for them to know and access the resources they have earned.