PHILADELPHIA, May 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — AARP Pennsylvania volunteers lit up the phone lines today as part of a “Reverse Boiler Room,” dialing thousands of older Pennsylvanians to arm them with the information they need so they can be on the alert and protect themselves and their families from certain scams.
Senator Bob Casey, Secretary Val Arkoosh and Secretary Jason Kavulich join AARP Pennsylvania volunteers in a “reverse boiler room” on May 19, 2023.
They were joined by U.S. Senator Bob Casey,Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich, and Acting Secretary of Human Services Valerie Arkoosh in reversing a long-time favorite tactic of con artists, whereby instead of hearing from crooks, Pennsylvania residents heard from trained volunteers on how to protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.
“Every year, more and more Pennsylvanians are victimized by fraudsters and scammers,” said Bill Johnston-Walsh, state director of AARP Pennsylvania. “And, once the money is gone, it is nearly impossible to recover. The best defense is for people to be informed about the various forms of consumer fraud happening daily – whether over the phone, the internet, your email, your mailbox, or even at your front door. That is why today we turned the tables on scammers, arming Pennsylvanians with the information they need so they know how to spot a scam and stop a scam.”
Impostor scams generally start with an unsolicited phone call, email, text or social media message. Fraudsters impersonate people and organizations you would ordinarily trust or at least hear out. The most common pose, accounting for 40 percent of impostor reports to the FTC, involves government agencies such as Social Security, Medicare or the IRS.
Impersonating police officers, federal agents, the IRS, tech, online shopping, or financial service companies, scammers use their “authority” to scare a person into paying them. Or they pretend to be a friend or loved one in trouble who needs money.
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“Today, I was grateful to join AARP in Philadelphia to ensure Pennsylvania seniors know every tool at their disposal to prevent unscrupulous actors from stealing their hard-earned savings. This includes the Aging Committee’s annual Fraud Book, a valuable resource with information about the most common scams that seniors report to the Committee’s Fraud Hotline, and how best to prevent them. One of my top priorities in Congress is protecting older adults against frauds and scams, and I’ll keep working to make sure seniors stay protected,” said Senator Casey, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.
“I am pleased to stand today with Senator Casey, Acting Secretary Arkoosh and other public servants and advocates who have done so much important work in the area of fraud and scams prevention,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “Indeed, to protect older adults and their significant assets, we must form a united front to make sure they have the information they need to prevent themselves from being exploited. We must work to share information and resources across systems; the information gaps are where scammers can flourish. I applaud Bill Johnston-Walsh, Teresa Osborne and all the fine advocates at AARP for creating an event that shines a light on a favorite scamming tactic and empowers older adults to fight back.”
“The Department of Human Services administers programs that provide life-sustaining supports – essentials like food, health care, and more. These are core to our daily wellbeing, and unfortunately, can be a subject for people looking to scam others,” said DHS Acting Secretary Val Arkoosh. “Please know that DHS will never text or call looking for personal information, and any outreach from my agency will direct Pennsylvanians to update their case through official channels like our COMPASS website. If you receive assistance through DHS, please stay vigilant to protect yourselves and these critical services.”
The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. Fraud Watch equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams and connect those targeted by scams with our fraud helpline specialists, who provide support and guidance on what to do next. AARP also advocates at the federal, state, and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.
The event was hosted by Benefits Data Trust, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides assistance over the phone to help tens of thousands of older Pennsylvanians apply for low-cost prescription drugs and other critical support.
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To report a scam, please call local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol, @AARPadvocates and @AliadosAdelante on social media.
Under the new testing mandate, milk samples will be taken from tanker trucks that collect and transport milk from local dairy farms to larger processing plants for pasteurization.
The milk samples will then be sent to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System.
If samples test positive for the virus, “it will trigger further investigation to identify the source” and “special quarantine measures will be established to contain and eliminate the virus at the source,” state officials said in a press release.
“We’ve seen in other states that the virus shows up in milk before cows show clinical signs of illness,” State Veterinarian Alex Hamberg said in a statement. “Rigorous biosecurity, including disinfecting [farmworkers’] boots, equipment, vehicles and using footbaths at barn entryways is critical.”
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Most of the testing responsibilities will be carried out by tank shippers or processing plant companies. What individual dairy farmers can do, Sebright said, is to have a plan in place should their milk ever test positive for avian flu.
“They would have to demonstrate that they have a strong biosecurity plan in place to show how they are going to limit the spread,” Sebright said. “And they would have to have that to get a permit to continue to move milk [to production].”
Milk that comes from infected cattle is safe to drink and consume after it’s been pasteurized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In efforts to prevent avian flu from infecting Pennsylvania cattle, the state also issued a quarantine order in April that requires dairy cattle to be tested when entering the state from elsewhere, especially areas with confirmed cases.
The state’s Department of Education will have a new secretary starting in early December. Khalid Mumin gave his two weeks’ notice Friday afternoon.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Education,” Mumin said in a statement. “I began my career as a teacher in a classroom, and those early experiences watching students get excited about learning inspired me to become a principal, a superintendent, and ultimately Secretary of Education, so I could continue to fight for those students to get more support and more opportunities.”
Mumin visited Pittsburgh this spring to announce that Penn Hills School District had navigated its way out of financial hardship. And in September, Mumin’s department awarded Allegheny County schools just shy of $11 million for environmental repairs.
A Philadelphia native, Mumin has led the Education Department since June 2023. He’d previously been a superintendent of two southeastern Pennsylvania districts — Reading and Lower Merion.
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In a statement, Gov. Josh Shapiro thanked Mumin for delivering on the universal free breakfast program for more than 1 million students and investing in career and technical education. He led the department with “passion and integrity,” Shapiro added. The governor did not say where Mumin would work next. The Department of Education would also not share further details Friday.
In Mumin’s place will be department Secretary Angela Fitterer, a former deputy chief of staff for Gov. Tom Wolf and policy advisor for the state House. Mumin’s final day as Secretary will be Dec. 6.
Democratic Senate Education Committee leader Lindsey Williams of Allegheny County said she’s grateful Mumin increased support for student mental health. Williams added Mumin’s successor “must be prepared to defend Pennsylvania students’ constitutional right to a high-quality inclusive public education” given the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
“It’s hard to last an entire term in a cabinet position that’s as high-impact as secretary of education,” said Republican House Education Committee leader Rep. Jesse Topper of Bedford County. “Overall I think he gave a good effort.”
Topper, who Republican House members recently named as their next leader, said he worked alongside interim Secretary Fitterer on the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission: “She’s very capable to fill in this spot right now.”
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Pittsburgh state Rep. Aerion Abney, member of the state House education committee and Allegheny County chair, said his time in Harrisburg intersected with Mumin’s over the past two years: “I’ve come to know the secretary well.”
“[Mumin’s] commitment to connecting future generations with the tools and resources needed to apply themselves to their fullest potential inside and outside of the classroom is second to none,” Abney said in a statement to WESA. “Good luck to him in all his future endeavors.”
Abney said he’s confident Fitterer will “[continue] the mission to keep the playing field level for young Pennsylvanians and help prepare them for the next stage of their lives.”
An artist’s rendering depicts the Ferncrest campus. (Image from https://fernecrest.messiahlifeways.org/ used with permission of Messiah LIfeways)
Mechanicsburg, PA-based Messiah Lifeways has received $1 million through the commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 2024 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
RACP grant funding is meant to be used for the design, acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.
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The retirement community has allocated half of the funding to prepare the site and construct the organization’s Fernecrest campus in New Cumberland, PA, for which ground was broken earlier this month. The other $500,000 will support HVAC upgrades at the Messiah Village campus in Mechanicsburg.
Messiah LIfeways said that the monies allocated to the Fernecrest property will allow it to focus on amenities such as a nature trail, a fitness center, dining venues “and various other perks designed for residents to enjoy the scenic landscape.”
Messiah Lifeways CEO and President Karl Brummer said in a press release that the grant money was an honor, “having the value of our efforts to meet the growing and evolving needs of older adults recognized and supported in such a tangible and transformational way.”
“These dollars will help us move our mission forward, broadening our regional reach and meeting a growing need for places where people can not just reside as they age, but also where they can gain a meaningful community with whom they can learn, explore and thrive, he added.
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