TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody and St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick have announced the opening of a new Seniors vs. Crime office. Located within the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office South Regional Operations Center, this new facility will provide assistance to older Floridians. The Seniors vs. Crime program, which has already secured approximately $7.9 million in recoveries, refunds, realized gains, and savings for consumers since 2019, will now have a dedicated space to assist seniors in St. Johns County.
Previously, older Floridians in St. Johns County had to travel more than an hour away to the Nassau County Seniors vs. Crime office for help. However, with the opening of this new office, senior assistance efforts will be greatly enhanced in St. Johns County. Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed her enthusiasm for the new office, stating, "Our Seniors vs. Crime program continues to grow, providing relief to older Floridians. When it comes to helping victims of scams, time is of the essence. With this new office, St. Johns County seniors no longer need to drive more than an hour away for help—increasing the chances of financial recovery. I encourage older Floridians in need to utilize this free resource."
Similarly, St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick spoke positively about the partnership between the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and the Attorney General's Office on the Seniors vs. Crime Project. He acknowledged the unfortunate reality that seniors often fall victim to scams and emphasized that this program adds an additional layer of protection for one of the most vulnerable populations. Sheriff Hardwick expressed his gratitude to Attorney General Moody for her partnership and the laser focus of her office on this initiative.
With the opening of this new office, more than 50,000 older Floridians in St. Johns County will have access to assistance. This is the third office opened by Attorney General Moody and the 32nd office in Florida. Initially, two Senior Sleuth volunteers will be working in the office, with plans to expand the number of available Senior Sleuths in the future.
The Seniors vs. Crime program has been highly successful in providing financial relief and realized gains. Last year alone, it obtained an estimated $2.4 million in financial relief and realized gains statewide. Since 2019, the program has secured an impressive $7.9 million in financial relief and realized gains. The dedicated Senior Sleuth volunteers have contributed significantly to these efforts, providing more than 25,000 hours of free services in 2022 and nearly 90,000 hours since 2019. Additionally, last year, over 23,165 people received crime prevention training through 185 speaking engagements conducted by Senior Sleuths. In 2022, these volunteers assisted nearly 8,000 Florida seniors.
The Seniors vs. Crime Project was established in 1989 with the aim of preventing crime and fraud, resolving disputes for seniors, and assisting the Florida Attorney General's Office. Attorney General Moody continues to release new resources to support Florida seniors, including the Scams at a Glance outreach program. This program offers easily shareable resources with information about common and emerging scams, many of which are specifically designed to assist seniors. The website provides brochures in both English and Spanish to help seniors stay informed and protected.
The opening of the new Seniors vs. Crime office in St. Johns County is a significant step towards providing better resources and assistance for older Floridians. With the dedicated efforts of Senior Sleuth volunteers and the ongoing support from the Attorney General's Office, seniors in St. Johns County can now access the help they need closer to home.
To find out more, go to this link: https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/video-ag-moody-and-st-johns-county-sheriff-announce-opening-new-seniors-vs-crime-office