AARP Hearing Center
New Jerseyans Came Together to Fight Fraud
More than 600 folks spent part of their day on September 22 focused on one simple goal: learning how to better protect themselves, their families and their communities from fraud. Over 200 people gathered at Pines Manor in Edison for the AARP New Jersey 2026 Fraud Summit, while over 400 joined online through brandlive & live stream hosted in partnership with ON New Jersey.
The theme of the summit, Fraud and Scams: Exploring the Future of Trust and Security, reflected a growing challenge. Artificial intelligence, voice cloning and deepfake technology are creating new opportunities for criminals and making it harder than ever to know who and what to trust.
But the message throughout the day was not one of fear. It was one of awareness, preparation and action.
"Knowledge gives you power over fraud and scams. Our goal today is to give you the information and tools you need to keep yourself and your loved ones safe."
Chris Widelo, AARP New Jersey State Director
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Learning From Those on the Front Lines
The summit brought together leaders from consumer protection, law enforcement and cybersecurity who shared what they are seeing today and what New Jersey residents should expect in the future.
Attendees heard how state agencies investigate fraud, enforce consumer protections and work to hold criminals accountable. Cybersecurity experts discussed how criminals are using technology to make scams more convincing and more difficult to detect.
One theme came up again and again: slow down.
Many scams succeed because victims are rushed, pressured or frightened into acting before they have time to think. Taking a moment to pause, verify and ask questions remains one of the strongest defenses available.
One Story That Resonated Throughout the Day
One of the most powerful moments of the summit came from a video featuring New Jersey resident Mark Urso, who shared how he and his wife lost more than $1 million through a government impersonation scam.
The criminals didn't rely on a single phone call. They used official-looking documents, repeated contacts and carefully crafted stories designed to create fear and confusion. Their experience illustrated how sophisticated and persistent today's scammers have become.
Just as importantly, Mark's story highlighted two messages that speakers emphasized throughout the day: talk openly about scams and report them when they happen. Criminals depend on isolation, embarrassment and silence. Every conversation and every complaint filed helps raise awareness and gives law enforcement more information to investigate emerging fraud trends.
Three Things You Can Do Today
The summit concluded with practical actions attendees could take immediately.
Save the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline number in your phone: 877-908-3360. If Mark's story showed anything, it's that fraud can happen to anyone. Whether you've been targeted, victimized or simply aren't sure if something feels right, you don't have to figure it out alone. The helpline is free, confidential and available to everyone, whether you're an AARP member or not.
Have a conversation about fraud with someone you care about. Talk with a neighbor, friend, parent, spouse or grandchild. Share one lesson from the summit or discuss a scam that's been making headlines. Cybersecurity speaker Stan Field encouraged attendees to become a trusted "go-to" person for the people in their lives. A simple conversation today could make you the person a loved one calls tomorrow before sending money, sharing personal information or responding to a suspicious message. And when you're not sure what to do next, the AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline is there to help.
Decide how you want to be part of the solution. Whether that means bringing fraud prevention information to your community, volunteering as a Fraud Fighter or simply being the person others turn to before clicking, paying or responding, everyone has a role to play.
The Work Continues
Education is one important part of fraud prevention, but it is not the only one.
At the national level, AARP is supporting the bipartisan GUARD Act, legislation designed to provide additional resources to help law enforcement investigate fraud and hold criminals accountable.
Here in New Jersey, AARP continues to advocate for stronger protections against cryptocurrency ATM scams. We're encouraging the New Jersey Assembly to pass legislation it's considering that would prohibit cryptocurrency ATMs in the state, addressing a form of fraud that has cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide.
Together, these efforts reflect a broader strategy: helping people recognize scams before they happen while also pursuing stronger protections and enforcement against those who commit them.
Resources
AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline 877-908-3360
Report scams and help warn others AARP Scam-Tracking Map
Learn more about fraud prevention resources aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork
Request a fraud presentation for your group aarp.org/NJSpeakersBureau
Interested in becoming a Fraud Fighter? Call AARP New Jersey at 866-542-8165 or email us njaarp@aarp.org or fill out our volunteer interest form.
Fraud fighters are not just people with titles, badges or cybersecurity credentials. They are neighbors, friends, family members and community members who are willing to start a conversation, share what they know and help someone pause before making a costly mistake.
That's how stronger, safer communities are built. That is how we keep these financial criminals out of the Garden State.
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