ATLANTA, GA – In recognition of Older Americans Month, Attorney General Chris Carr is encouraging older consumers to protect both their health and their finances during these challenging times.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our older Americans for the contributions they have made and continue to make to our society,” says Attorney General Carr. “In this current climate, the health and well-being of our older Georgians is more important than ever. In addition to the serious health risks posed by COVID-19, scammers are taking advantage of the pandemic to try to con vulnerable consumers out of their money. We want to support all older Georgia residents in staying safe, healthy and informed.”

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division offers the following resources to help older consumers avoid scams:

  • Our office, along with the AARP, FTC and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) have created a COVID-19 related anti-scam webinar. It can be viewed by visiting the Atlanta AARP website.
  • In cooperation with the BBB and FTC, we have posted the following videos to help protect all Georgians during this challenging time:
    • Stimulus Payments and Government Grants
    •  Employment Scams
    • Phone Calls
    • Coronavirus Cures
    • Price Gouging

You can view the videos here.

  • All this month we will be highlighting our Ask Consumer Ed columns that focus on issues older adults face.
  • Our office also publishes the Consumer Protection Guide for Older Adults, which is available in English and Spanish. The guide includes an array of topics of importance to seniors, including scams, identity theft, credit and debt, reverse mortgages, charitable giving, home repairs, funerals, advance directives, long-term care, elder abuse and more. 
  • Finally, the office urges older adults to follow the public safety guidelines put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Georgia Department of Public Health.