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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.
AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.
The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.
Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded.
It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million.
At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.
This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota.
You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how you can help by watching our recent virtual information session:
Text FWN to 50757 to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.
Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: https://aarp.info/tcofr
This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the AARP Minnesota page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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} </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ALEDO-IL">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ALEDO-IL">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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} </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ALEDO-IL">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ALEDO-IL">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">AARP Advocating for State Fraud Restitution Fund </h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 11/19/24 </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>AARP is committed to combating fraud by educating people about current trends, advocating for improved consumer protections, and enforcing laws.<br><br>AARP Minnesota is pushing for the passage of legislation to create a state-level Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund (Fund) for victims of fraud, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Civil Penalty Fund. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have fallen prey to scams and would be particularly beneficial for older adults who are no longer working and need financial recovery. Urging state lawmakers to establish such a fund is a top AARP legislative priority in 2025.<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/c9/ca/d836d92f458582f6fe03fd1774af/24-ftc-data-chart.png" alt="24 FTC Data Chart.png" width="1024" height="768" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListChevron"> <div class="ListChevron-title">Take Action</div> <div class="ListChevron-description">Sign on to tell Minnesota lawmakers to protect victims of fraud.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://action.aarp.org/MNFraudAction" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click">SIGN ON</a></div></span></span></div> <ul class="ListChevron-items"> <li class="ListChevron-items-item"> <div class="PromoTextItem"> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div><p>The Fund would be managed by the state Attorney General’s (AG) office and is seen as crucial for cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. Currently, excess money from civil penalty payments in fraud cases won by the AG's office goes into the state’s general fund. The proposed restitution fund would redirect these funds to help fraud victims recover their losses.<br><br>Getting money back to people will give AG a reason to go after scammers and incentivize more people to report financial crimes if they know they could get their money back. To receive funds, the AG would have to bring a case against a defendant as a public enforcement action and obtain an order from the court based on the AG’s investigation establishing that the person was defrauded. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="right"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/85/0a/4e5c5d644436949a86ffca561bff/screenshot-2024-11-20-at-12-21-40-pm.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 12.21.40 PM.png" width="1018" height="648" style="height: auto; max-width: 350px;"/> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" > <blockquote > It’s an idea we completely support. Such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt. </blockquote> <div class="FullQuote-attribution" >Jessica Whitney, Minnesota Deputy Attorney General</div> </div></div> </div><p>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Minnesotans reported more than 22,0000 fraud reports within the first three quarters of 2024, with losses totaling near $103 million. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="FactPromo" > <div class="FactPromo-info"> <div class="FactPromo-description">In 2020, a Hennepin County couple in their 80s lost over $110,000 to a scam involving a fake multimillion-dollar sweepstakes. The scammers kept the couple on the phone for hours, gaining their trust and convincing them to pay taxes upfront to claim their prize. Despite filing a police report, the perpetrators remain unidentified, and the money was never recovered.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards providing much-needed financial relief to fraud victims in Minnesota. </p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide" style="--color:var(--black)" data-button-style=default > <div class="PromoImageOnSide-content"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-media"> <img class="Image" alt="" src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d475185/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/600x336!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png" width="600" height="336" srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/325351b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1075+0+2/resize/1200x672!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F22%2Fec%2F997ad6c94848b63de732ee4ab608%2Fweb-button-save-the-date.png 2x" ></div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-title"> <span class="Link">Scams to Spot in 2025</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnSide-description">Join AARP on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m. online, to learn about the latest scams. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><div class="SolidButton"><a href="https://local.aarp.org/aarp-event/scams-to-spot-in-2025-protect-yourself-bvnssmyltnt.html" target="_blank" data-google-link-analytics="cta" data-ga-category="cta buttons" data-ga-action="click"><b>REGISTER</b></a></div></span></span><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>You can learn about the Fraud Restitution Fund and how <i>you</i> can help by watching our recent virtual information session:</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-youtubeplayer data-video-player class="YouTubeVideoPlayer" data-player-id="f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" data-video-id="mPCKRiWec80" data-video-title="Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session"> <iframe id="YouTubeVideoPlayer-f06bb11f06380430dbcced5b527d9df66" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPCKRiWec80?enablejsapi=1"></iframe> </bsp-youtubeplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Our Community, Our Voice: Advocacy Volunteer Information Session</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ListThreeColumn" data-column-count="3" style="--color:var(--grey)" > <div class="ListThreeColumn-title">If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network.html?cmp=RDRCT-BRD-FRD-ABT-JUN2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network™</a></span></span> provides free information, tools and tips to help you protect your hard-earned dollars from frauds and scams. AARP Minnesota advocates at the state, federal, and local levels to improve consumer protections and enforce laws. If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone.</div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items"> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e967ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1442a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1248df1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F4c%2F4c%2Ff823374444c0a0e7940aae4d9bc3%2F1140-stay-informed-about-scams-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Stay Informed</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">Get reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/#01" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fraud prevention resources</a></span></span>.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4bfe446/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/900x518!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b584bbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/1800x1036!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fb7d99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x518+0+0/resize/2700x1554!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fe2%2F74%2F91c884f747f0ac5d23d056878bf3%2F1140-helpline-opt-c-imgcache-rev-web-900-518.jpg 3x" width="900" height="518"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Find Support</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">The <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP fraud helpline</a></span></span>, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/voa-rest-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online support sessions</a></span></span> for further emotional support.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-items-item"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop" > <div class="PromoImageOnTop-media"><span class="Link"> <img class="Image lazyload" alt="" data-src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3824b92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/600x345!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg" data-srcset="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98bb5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1200x690!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 2x,https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6dd86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x345+0+0/resize/1800x1035!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F09%2F5b%2Fdc4cde214a13881862cd83df0a3d%2F1140-have-a-voice-imgcache-rev-web-600-345.jpg 3x" width="600" height="345"> </span> <span class="PromoImageOnTop-type" data-type=></span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-info"> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-title"> <span class="Link">Have a Voice</span> </div> <div class="PromoImageOnTop-description">We <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/fighting-for-you.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advocate for laws and regulations</a></span></span> to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. Share your concerns and help shape the public discussion on fraud.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ListThreeColumn-pagination"></div> </div> </div> </div><p>Text<b> FWN </b>to<b> 50757 </b>to get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Fraud Alerts.<br><i><sub>Message and data rates may apply. Terms apply: </sub></i><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://aarp.info/tcofr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><sub>https://aarp.info/tcofr</sub></a></span></span></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); 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} </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ALEDO-IL">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ALEDO-IL">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/aledo-il/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Aledo, IL</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/aledo-il/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="containerx"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu containerx" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/aledo-il/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HOME">Home</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/aledo-il/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/aledo-il/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/aledo-il/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/aledo-il/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/aledo-il/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/aledo-il/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/aledo-il/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/aledo-il/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/aledo-il/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/aledo-il/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/aledo-il/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/aledo-il/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/aledo-il/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118