Operation Senior Shield is a free alert system aiming to educate and empower seniors and caregivers about scam phone calls, texts, emails and popups.
"They give seniors confidence. It gives them control. It gives them the ability to recognize a scam instantly and shut it down before it even starts," said Lt. Governor Jay Collins during a visit to Miami Wednesday morning to help launch the statewide initiative.
The 2023 FBI Elder Fraud Report found Florida ranked second in the nation in number of senior complaints filed and losses... at about $300 million dollars.
Collins says the average senior victimized by one of these schemes loses about $32,000.
"Operation Senior Shield is critical to protecting our most vulnerable residents," said District 4 Commissioner Ralph “Rafael” Rosado. "Seniors are increasingly targeted by sophisticated scams, and this initiative provides essential education and resources to keep them safe. I am grateful that Lieutenant Governor Collins is bringing this important issue to the forefront."
--> Get more information on Operation Senior Shield and sign up here.