The holiday shopping season is already in full swing, and AARP Pennsylvania has some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft.

The latest AARP study found 76%, or roughly three out of four U.S. adults age 18 and older, have been targeted by at least one form of fraud.

Associate State Director David Kalinoski at AARP Pennsylvania said the most common scams are related to online shopping, empty gift cards and package delivery.

"Sometimes criminals go into stores and scratch off the strips on the back of the gift card," said Kalinoski. "They get the PIN number and then return it to the store racks. And once the card is loaded, scammers drain the funds because they have technology that can instantaneously let somebody know when that gift card was activated."

Kalinoski said they recommend purchasing gift cards directly from the card issuer's website.

He adds that to receive timely updates on the latest scams and fraud schemes, Pennsylvania residents can enroll in bi-weekly fraud alerts via text messaging.

Simply text the abbreviation FWN (which stands for Fraud Watch Network) to the number 50757.

Kalinoski said the AARP Fraud Watch Network offers free resources that help individual identify and prevent fraud, including educational materials and helpline assistance.

He said AARP's tracking map reveals active scams across the country.

Pennsylvanians can use their ZIP code to pinpoint specific scams in their area.

"The other thing that's with the Fraud Watch Network is the ability for people to post when they've been sort of targeted by a fraud or scam," said Kalinoski. "They can go online and post on our scam tracking map, something that other individuals should watch out for."

He warned folks to be aware of social media scams with fake product ads that lead to non-delivery of items.

He recommended not to click in messages and ads, even if the retailer appears familiar, because scammers can create fake websites that look real.

"Instead, take the extra step to open up your web browser and type in a known retailer's web address into that," said Kalinoski. "And then you can go directly to that, and if that's verified by what you've received in a pop-up ad, then you know it might be legitimate."

Kalinoski said if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam. He pointed out the importance of filing a police report if you've been scammed.

He also encouraged victims to report the incident without shame.

Various agencies, including the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, and Better Business Bureau, handle scam reports.

A new bill to make car shopping more transparent goes before the California Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday.

Senate Bill 766 would require dealers to disclose the full "out-the-door" price before a purchase. The legislation is meant to prevent people from getting tricked by offers that require certain add-ons.

Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, is its sponsor.

"People need to be able to really understand what they're spending," Allen contended. "Some car dealers, you walk in and you're basically upsold - folks, they've ended up spending a lot more than they thought they were going to spend when they walked into the dealership."

The bill would require car dealers to tell consumers when an add-on is optional and it would require them to get customer approval before any add-ons. The Biden administration tried to put the rule in place nationally last December but a judge invalidated the attempt. The Trump administration is not expected to revive it.

The California Chamber of Commerce opposes new regulations on dealerships, saying they would lead to more lawsuits against car dealers and increased costs for consumers. Allen stressed he hopes the bill will do the opposite.

"By giving consumers some extra time and having greater transparency about what exactly they're spending, it'll reduce the likelihood for folks to file litigation to remedy the issue," Allen argued.

The bill would also give customers who bought a used car three days to return a vehicle for a full refund, with a small restocking fee.


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Arizona lawmakers are considering a bill to prevent cryptocurrency scams and regulate what are known as "crypto kiosks."

Brendon Blake, AARP Arizona's director of advocacy, said these kiosks, often found inside businesses or malls, allow folks to convert cash into Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Blake said the scams often start over the phone, when scammers pressure people to get cash and then deposit the money at a kiosk.

Blake said crypto's decentralized nature makes it difficult to track where the deposit ends up.

"The majority of experts believe the money is being sent overseas to large criminal enterprises or just to scammers that are overseas," he said. "We are seeing people lose tons of money. Last year, we saw $189 million be moved via cryptocurrency ATMs that were as a result of scams."

Blake said House Bill 2387 focuses on prevention, restitution and security. He added that the majority of victims are people older than 60 - likely because the demographic has easier access to larger amounts of savings, and scammers exploit a lack of awareness of how cryptocurrency works.

For those who think they've fallen victim to a crypto scam, he said, it's vital to report it to local authorities. He added that sometimes, refunds are possible.

Blake added the state is fighting for a daily limit on how much money can be deposited into a "crypto kiosk." The bill also aims to make warning signs at kiosks mandatory.

"We believe that these machines and these companies have a responsibility to do fraud prevention," he said, "and so, we do have warnings and disclosures in the bill that they have to display."

Blake said the bill has had little opposition and that some in the crypto industry are supporting it. He called HB 2387 the "opening attempt" at trying to protect Arizonans from crypto scams.

"And if we've got to come back and figure out more, 'Hey this didn't exactly work, we've got to tweak this,' AARP is endlessly committed to making sure that we got something right," he said.

Blake said the bill still needs a Senate floor vote before heading back to the House. If it passes, it would head to Gov. Katie Hobbs' desk.

Insurance premiums have gone up a lot and according to a new report, Arizona is one of the states where homeowners are being hit hardest.

The Consumer Federation of America's latest report found from 2021 to 2024, annual insurance premiums for a typical Arizona homeowner increased by more than $700.

Diane Brown, executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group, called the situation dire and fears the severity and increasing frequency of wildfires plaguing the state could only exacerbate the problem. She called the report "a wake-up call for consumers and policymakers across the nation."

"Policymakers should recognize it is no accident that wildfires are contributing to increased insurance costs," Brown urged. "And should not accept claims by the utilities that they should be left off the hook for basic legal responsibility."

Arizona lawmakers are currently debating a bill to protect utilities from wildfire-related lawsuits and could have the unintended consequence of shifting the burden of wildfire claims from utilities onto homeowners' insurers.

Brown argued the approach is wrong and if found negligent, utilities should have to cover costs to those affected. Many Arizonans have seen their rates skyrocket this year or have been dropped from coverage altogether as insurance companies try to recover losses.

Doug Heller, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, pointed out there is not a "strong culture of rate review in Arizona." He said insurance companies will take advantage of the places in which advantage is allowed.

"Arizona needs to step up and be more aggressive in its inspection of the insurance companies' rates," Heller emphasized. "In Arizona, as in other parts of the West, to be honest, it's all around the country, the wildfire risk has increased with climate change, there is no question about that."

Heller added it is going to take a "concerted effort" to get things on the right track. The report recommended requiring insurance companies to release data on pricing, coverage and claims annually, for federal and state governments to expand grant-based and loan risk mitigation programs as well as the creation of a "reinsurance program" to stabilize the market.

Experts advised homeowners to shop around for the best rates and also maintain homes by utilizing vital fire-reduction measures.


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