Free seminars in Jacksonville area to help protect elder consumers from scams and fraud
Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381
Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s Elder Consumer Protection Program will warn Jacksonville-area elderly citizens about the dangers of identity theft and home services fraud at several free consumer protection presentations in January.
The seminars are part of Stetson’s statewide Elder Consumer Protection Program, which is headed by Stetson’s Elder Law Chair Rebecca Morgan. The program began with a successful seminar series around the Tampa Bay area and will continue around the state in the coming months with sessions on different types of fraud.
“Over and over we hear stories about unscrupulous individuals posing as legitimate service repair providers who then take a large amount of money for no work or shoddy work,” Morgan said. “It is important for seniors to know how to find a legitimate service repair company and how to protect themselves from these service scams.”
Stetson’s Elder Consumer Protection Fellow Nick Cox will present warnings on services fraud, which includes lawn care, air conditioning repairs, appliance repairs or any home service that a person may need.
With experience in both the Office of the Florida Attorney General and the State Attorney’s Office, Cox has worked closely with state and federal agencies to educate citizens and law enforcement personnel on consumer fraud issues.
Cox will speak at the following senior centers:
- Jan. 17, 10:30 a.m., Coastal Community Center, St. John’s County Center on Aging, St. Augustine
- Jan. 20, 10:30 a.m., Mary Singleton Senior Center, Jacksonville (The city of Jacksonville will transport seniors from several surrounding centers for this presentation.)
- Jan. 24, 11 a.m., Oceanway Senior Center, Jacksonville
- Jan. 25, 11 a.m., Hammond Community Center, Jacksonville
- Jan. 27, 11 a.m., Jacksonville Beaches Senior Center, South Jacksonville Beach
Funding for these programs was provided in part by the Administration on Aging, and the presentations are part of Stetson’s work under a federal grant to educate the elderly on consumer fraud prevention. Stetson, a national leader in the field of elder law, has partnered with the Florida Attorney General’s Office, AARP and the legal community to increase public awareness of consumer fraud against senior citizens.
To suggest a location or for information on scheduling additional consumer protection seminars, please call 727-562-7800 ext. 7235.
Post date: Jan. 10, 2005
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580