Operation Senior Shield warns about romance scams
Press release from Operation Senior Shield
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In romance scams, fraudsters create fake online relationships through dating sites, social media, or messaging apps. They build trust and emotional attachment over time, then invent emergencies or investment opportunities to request money. The scammer often claims personal hardships or urgent needs to manipulate the victim. Their goal is to exploit emotional vulnerability for financial gain.
Red Flags:
• Quick declarations of love or intense emotional attachment.
• Requests for money, gifts, or help with emergencies.
• Avoidance of in-person meetings or video calls without a reasonable explanation.
Tips to Avoid Romance Scams:
• Take time to verify the identity of anyone you meet online before sending money or personal information.
• Never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person.
• Consult family or friends if you are unsure about the person’s claims.
Where to Report a Suspected Scam:
• Report romance/confidence scams to FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• Report online/internet crime to IC3: https://complaint.ic3.gov/
• National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)
• Florida Office of Inspector General: https://legacy.myfloridalegal.com/contact.nsf/contact?Open&Section=Citizen_Services, or 1-866-9 NO-SCAM
• The U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General: oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud, or 1-800-447-8477
Romeo oh Romeo where art thou? Please believe I love you…..not just your $$$.
What a wasteful use of our tax dollars, convening a task force from the Secretary of State’s office to tell Floridians “don’t be stupid.” Where’s Florida DOGE when there’s wasteful spending by the DeSantis administration?
I guess you’ve never had a senior in your life conned by one of these pieces of crap scammers that prey on elderly folks
Those people are pure evil. They deserve a life sentence in that sh$t hole prison in Ecuador
Could use a MAGA scam reminder as well. Liars are us!
Higher prices have fallen hardest on those least able to afford them. In 2025, the bottom 20% of households faced roughly $950 in additional inflation-related costs — more than 5% of their estimated income. In contrast, although the top 20% paid more in absolute dollars, those costs amounted to just 2% of their estimated income. The report also documents sharp price increases for everyday grocery staples, including coffee and beef prices, which are up a respective 29% and 21% since January 2025.
Here’s how much the average cost of ground beef per pound nationally has risen each year since 2019:
● December 2019: $3.86
● December 2020: $3.95
● December 2021: $4.60
● December 2022: $4.80
● December 2023: $5.21
● December 2024: $5.60
● December 2025: $6.69 Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics