Operation Senior Shield warns about sweepstakes scams
December 30, 2025
Staff report
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Operation Senior Shield, an alert system from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, has issued a warning about scams that target seniors with fake sweepstakes and prize notifications. They may claim you’ve won a cash prize but ask for a fee or personal information to claim it.
Red Flags:
- Being asked to pay money upfront.
- Prize seems too good to be true.
- Pressure to act immediately.
How to protect yourself:
- Report suspicious activity to local authorities.
- Never give personal info or send money to claim a prize.
- Verify contests before responding.
Sign up for Operation Senior Shield alerts here.
I went to their site, I was going to sign up for email just to see what info they provide. However, they want a lot more information about me than I care to provide. It should all be optional.