In a bold and history-making move to protect some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens, AARP, in partnership with Amazon, Google, and Walmart, has unveiled the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center (NEFCC) – a powerful, first-ever alliance that unites the private and public sectors in an all-out war against elder fraud.

Launched in Washington, D.C., the NEFCC is a nonprofit force powered by deep collaboration between law enforcement, technology companies, retailers, advocacy groups, and academic researchers. The Center's mission? To hunt down and halt criminal enterprises that prey on older Americans – a group that, according to the Federal Trade Commission, lost a staggering $61.5 billion to fraud in 2023 alone.

🛑 AARP Takes the Lead in the Fight for Justice
“While fraud affects people of all ages, older adults often face the greatest financial losses, putting their retirement security and well-being at risk,” said Kathy Stokes, Director of Fraud Prevention Programs at AARP Fraud Watch Network. “Built on a proven model for delivering results, the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center will play a critical role to address the fraud crisis in our country.”

Through real-time data sharing, cyber intelligence, and nationwide collaboration, the NEFCC will help identify fraud patterns, link cases, and build complex investigations that federal and state agencies can use to dismantle fraud rings. In short: this is not just a hotline – it’s a strike force.

🔎 Meet the Man Leading the Charge
At the helm is Brady Finta, former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and founder of the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force. With a storied career taking on organized crime, Finta brings grit and vision to this new endeavor.

“Older Americans deserve our best efforts to protect them against the transnational organized crime rings defrauding them,” said Finta. “NEFCC is modeled on the success of the FBI San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, proving that coordination across sectors and applying an organized crime lens will lead to arrests, prosecutions, and convictions. Importantly, NEFCC brings the private sector to this cause.”

🌐 Tech Titans Join the Fight
The power of this new center is amplified by the tech giants and retail leaders backing it:

Amazon’s Scott Knapp, VP of Worldwide Buyer Risk Prevention: “We’re proud to be a founding member of the NEFCC… working collaboratively across the

public and private sector to hold scammers accountable.”

Google’s Halimah DeLaine Prado, General Counsel: “We’ve long believed in not only combating scams but using litigation to hold bad actors accountable.”

Walmart’s Claire Rushton, Senior Director of Investigations: “We will relentlessly work together to protect those most vulnerable.”

📍 NEFCC: A Houston Call to Action
This initiative should especially resonate in Houston, where our vibrant 50+ community forms the foundation of many families. As the city’s premier voice for empowerment, Houston Style Magazine celebrates AARP’s efforts to ensure our elders are protected from predatory fraudsters.

The NEFCC is now operating out of the National Cyber Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA) and is poised to become the gold standard for anti-fraud efforts targeting seniors.

🔗 Learn more and join the movement to protect your family and community: www.fightelderfraud.org

About AARP:
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to empowering people aged 50 and older to live with dignity and choice. From health security to fraud protection, AARP works every day to make life better for more than 100 million older Americans and their families. Learn more at www.aarp.org