Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made a stop in Naples Friday in an ongoing effort to reach out to senior citizens across the state about consumer protection.
Bondi has held consumer protection fairs aimed at educating seniors all around the state lately. She’s also made stops in Miami and Tampa.
Most recently, she stopped in Naples to warn them about potential fraud targeting elderly people. She said scams aimed at this demographic are growing in the Sunshine State.
“You know, people think senior citizens are simply vulnerable, but they are trusting,” she said. “And they are an easy prey for scam artists and right now I feel we are at an incredible high of these scam artists trying to take advantage of not only our seniors, but our businesses and everyone.”
Bondi told a small group at the event that no creditors should be asking for social security numbers over the phone.
She also warned attendees about a growing scam involving people pretending to be utility companies.
Bondi said Floridians should be report any suspicious activity to her office or the Better Business Bureau.
Gay Marriage
Bondi also discussed recently filed appeals to rulings that declared the state’s gay marriage ban is unconstitutional.
Since July, five judges have ruled Florida’s gay-marriage ban unconstitutional.
Last week, Bondi filed appeals to two of the federal lawsuits. Among the cases was one brought by nine same-sex couples in the state. The couples are suing state officials to recognize their out-of-state marriages.
During an event in Naples, Bondi told reporters the appeals aren’t personal. She said she promised to uphold the state’s constitution and wants to see them through to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“We have to have finality,” Bondi explained. “All of these cases need to be decided by the United State Supreme Court. Multiple states are pending the U.S. Supreme taking their cases. I hope they are going to take all the cases-- so, we’ll have finality sooner than later.”
Bondi did not, however, appeal a similar ruling that pertained only to one same-sex divorce in Broward County.
She said because the case only affected one couple and a Broward judge issued a stay on his ruling, there was no reason for the state to get involved. According to The Miami Herald, this paves the way for the judge to finalize the divorce.
