AARP Fraud Prevention Month Brings Free Events to Virginia

View details

 

Crypto Kiosk Scams: Protections for Virginians

Crypto kiosks are fueling scams targeting older adults. New bipartisan Virginia legislation aims to regulate these machines and protect consumers.

Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026

Time: 7 – 8 p.m.

Location: Virtual

View details

Spotting Scams & Staying Safe – Woodbridge

Scams can happen to anyone, but spotting and avoiding these criminals can become second nature when you know the right steps to take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Date: Friday, April 3, 2026

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: 2201 Opitz Boulevard, Woodbridge, VA, 22191

View details

Spotting Scams & Staying Safe – Haymarket

Scams can happen to anyone, but spotting and avoiding these criminals can become second nature when you know the right steps to take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Time: 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Location: 14870 Lightner Road, Haymarket, VA, 20169

View details

 

Free Coffee Friday with Fraud Fighters – Gainesville 

Drop in for free coffee and practical fraud prevention tips from AARP Fraud Fighters. Learn how to stay safe from the latest scams and take home helpful resources.

Date: Friday, April 10, 2026

Time: 9 – 11 a.m.

Location: 8002 Crescent Park Drive, Gainesville, VA, 20157

View details

 

Spotting Scams & Staying Safe – Ashburn

Scams can happen to anyone, but spotting and avoiding these criminals can become second nature when you know the right steps to take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026

Time: 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Location: 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn, VA, 2014

View details

Fraud in Virginia: The Latest Numbers

• Total reported fraud losses: $350 million
• Number of reports filed: 63,623
• Top reported scams:
  • Imposter Scams
  • Online Shopping and Negative Reviews
  • Internet Services

This data underscore why fraud is a priority issue that affects everyone. 

AARP Advocacy: Protecting Consumers from Crypto Kiosk Fraud

In addition to in-person and virtual events, AARP is advocating for policy solutions to protect consumers from crypto kiosk fraud — one of the fastest-growing scam tactics nationwide. Criminals increasingly direct victims to cryptocurrency kiosks (sometimes called Bitcoin ATMs), where money can be transferred quickly and is often difficult to recover.

AARP is addressing this issue from multiple angles:

• Empowering people with information about crypto kiosk scams and what to do if they are targeted
• Urging policymakers to establish practical safeguards for consumers
• Supporting fraud victims through the AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline and fraud victim support program 

In Virginia, AARP supported legislation during the 2026 General Assembly that will help protect consumers by putting in place badly needed rules and regulations for virtual currency kiosks, which can be found in convenience stores, gas stations, or many other locations and look like bank ATMs. These kiosks’ intended use is to purchase cryptocurrency and transfer funds to digital wallets, but because they are currently unregulated and transactions are difficult to trace, they are often used for fraud. There are tens of thousands of these kiosks across the country, and nationwide estimates in 2025 put the losses from crypto kiosk scams at around $330 million.

The bill, which is on its way to the Governo’s desk, establishes minimum standards of conduct for operators, requires them to be licensed with the state and requires them to provide regular reports on their business activities.

Most importantly, it institutes a number of protections against fraud, including:

• Daily and monthly transaction limits, to help mitigate losses in the event that fraud does occur
• 48-hour holds for new users to ensure that money can be returned in the event of a fraudulent transaction
• ID verification for all transactions; and
• Warning requirements to ensure that users understand the risks and the potential for scams

Nationwide Events You Can Join from Anywhere

In addition to local programming, AARP is hosting several free virtual events.

Identify Fraud: What You Need to Know

Identity fraud is rising, but you can fight back! Get expert tips and ask your questions live during this upbeat virtual session.

Date: Wednesday, April 15

Time: 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. 

View Details

Real Solutions: Protecting Yourself from Fraud

Seeing more scams and unsure what to watch for? We’re hosting a nationwide tele-town hall to talk through common red flags and simple, practical solutions. Spanish-language access available.

Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026 

Time: 1 – 2 p.m.

View Details

Why This Matters

Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to target unsuspecting consumers. While adults 50-plus are frequently targeted, fraud affects every generation.

AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all to help you proactively spot scams, get guidance from our fraud specialists if you’ve been targeted and feel more secure knowing that we advocate at the federal, state, and local levels to protect consumers and enforce the law.

Fraud Prevention Month helps ensure that every Virginians have access to reliable information and trusted resources.

Take Action:

Attend a local event. Join virtually. Share what you learn with friends and family. Protect yourself — and your community. Learn more: aarp.org/FraudSafety. 

Join the fight against fraud—from anywhere. Become an AARP Digital Fraud Fighter and help your friends and family spot and avoid scams.

More Resources

AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline: Get guidance from trained fraud specialists: Call 877-908-3360 Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. 

Subscribe to Watchdog Alerts: Stay on top of the latest scams by subscribing to AARP's free bi-weekly newsletter by email and text. 

AARP Scam-Tracking Map: See scams occurring near you or report one if you’ve been targeted. 

E-Learning — Effective Ways to Protect Yourself From Scams: This free course explains how to spot warning signs, disengage from scammers and take action if you're a target.