TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office today announced Operation Income Illusion, a nationwide crackdown on scams that target consumers with false promises of income and financial independence. The impact of these scams has intensified this year as scammers take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and financial crisis to exploit jobseekers. Attorney General Moody is joined by the Federal Trade Commission and other federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Operation Income Illusion.
Highlighted in the nationwide crackdown is Attorney General Moody’s action against FirstUSA Business Development Inc—filed last month in Pinellas County. The complaint filed against FirstUSA alleges that the company induced consumers through telemarketing calls to purchase business coaching products and services, supposedly designed to help consumers start or improve a home-based internet business, but resulted in some consumers losing thousands of dollars without earning the profits promised or, in some instances, not even receiving the products or services. The defendants marketed these services to consumers in Florida and across the country.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Income scams prey on people who find themselves in financially vulnerable situations, such as a sudden loss of employment or imminent retirement with inadequate funding. With high unemployment and the ongoing financial impact brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are looking for innovative ways to make ends meet, making them more susceptible to income scams. Sadly, these scams produce the opposite results for income seekers—instead of gaining a paycheck, they lose money. I am proud to work with our federal and state partners to actively identify, investigate and stop these schemes in Florida and nationwide.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today secured a 20-year prison sentence for a child sexual predator. Ryan Harding pleaded guilty to attempted sexual battery on a child under the age of 12 and several counts of possession of child pornography, among other charges stemming from his Aug. 28, 2018 arrest. Harding’s lengthy prison sentence will be followed by five years of sex offender probation. Harding will also have to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “The abuse and exploitation of a child is an act of pure evil. It is incredibly disturbing and heartbreaking to learn of victims going through years of this form of physical and psychological torture. I am proud of my Statewide Prosecutors for securing a lengthy prison sentence in this case. I hope this will bring some peace of mind to the victim as the healing process continues.”
According to a June 2017 report filed with the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office, between 2013 and 2017, Harding sexually molested a child who was between the ages of 11 and 14 during the time period of abuse. The sexual battery reportedly occurred in multiple counties, namely Citrus, Lake, Marion and Miami-Dade. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the case due to the multiple jurisdictions.
Harding pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual battery on a child under 12 years of age, 13 counts of possession of child pornography, one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child, one count of transmission of materials harmful to minors and one count of use of a two-way communications device to facilitate the commission of a felony. Julie Sercus with the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution prosecuted the case.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is taking action to claw back money owed to Florida’s Medicaid Program. Following a multistate investigation into Royal Pharmaceuticals LLC and Seton Pharmaceuticals LLC, Attorney General Moody and a bipartisan group of attorneys general from across the country secured more than $10 million for the states’ Medicaid programs. The nationwide investigation found that the two jointly-held pharmaceutical companies underpaid Medicaid drug rebates to all 50 states from 2013 to 2017.
Florida’s Medicaid program will receive more than $4 million through efforts by Attorney General Moody and other state attorneys general.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “For years these pharmaceutical companies shortchanged Florida’s Medicaid program—hurting the integrity of the taxpayer benefit and shortchanging Floridians. I am proud of the work of my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the team of attorneys general who worked together to stop it and secure millions for our states’ Medicaid programs.”
In July 2018, Royal and Seton self-reported an error in the companies’ Medicaid Drug Rebate Program data to the North Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. As part of the MDRP, drug manufacturers are required to pay rebates to state Medicaid programs for each of the company’s drugs that are covered by Medicaid. From September 2013 to January 2017, Royal and Seton inadvertently, yet inaccurately, reported the market date data element that is part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ calculation of each drug’s rebate amount. Continue reading
This month, I issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about COVID-19 vaccine product and distribution scams. With news that thousands of doses of coronavirus vaccines will be heading to Florida soon and consumers anxious to achieve immunity, scammers may exploit the situation to rip-off Floridians.
Once doses arrive, the swift and orderly distribution of the vaccine will be key to getting our state and country back on track.
With that said, I am asking all Floridians to be on the lookout for vaccine-related scams and report fraud. Scammers may try to exploit the sense of urgency surrounding the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to swindle those trying to protect their health.
The following tips can help Floridians avoid COVID-19 vaccine-related scams:
- Seek vaccine-related information from trusted health care professionals and government officials;
- Do not respond to solicitations about vaccines;
- Never send money or financial information to anyone offering a COVID-19 vaccine or claiming the ability to expedite the process; and
- Report suspicious solicitations or COVID-19 vaccine-related advertisements to my office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.
To view the latest alerts and to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 related scams, visit our Consumer Alert webpage by clicking http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases
By keeping a watchful eye out for scammers and following the advice of trusted health care professionals, we will get through this pandemic and build a Stronger, Safer Florida.
The 6th Annual Experience Lady Lake Expo was hosted this year at a Brand New location, the Lady Lake Soccer Fields! The event was sponsored by Bill Bryan Chrysler Dodge Jeep, UF Health Auxiliary Foundation, Elevate Lake, and the Town of Lady Lake. There were over 50 Vendors in attendance and we saw around 1,000 visitors. Businesses were excited to have the opportunity to get out in person and interact with the local community!
The Expo also featured a car show this year, and vendors sponsored trophies to award to participants. Thank you to all who attended the expo… we will see you next year!
(NewsUSA) – The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a long list of unprecedented challenges, including the way it has caused food insecurity to rise. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of access to enough nutritionally adequate foods to live an active and healthy life. Fortunately, there are some benefits that can help qualifying members of Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP) address this issue.
In fact, a benefit including a monthly food card allowance can assist people in purchasing food and beverages at a varie-ty of well-known, national stores.During this Medicare Annual Election Period, which runs from October 15 through Decem-ber 7, individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, also known as dual-eligible individuals, should consider enrolling in a D-SNP. If you are eligible for Medicare — meaning you’re age 65 or older or are living with a disability — and meet the requirements to have Medicaid, be sure to look into a D-SNP as some plans may include:*
Convenience of a debit card: Qualifying members of D-SNPs with a food benefit may receive a food-card like a credit card. Once the card is activated, you can purchase qualifying items, such as milk, eggs, bread, juices, waters, yogurts, fruits, vegetables and more, utilizing the available balance on your card. However, it’s important to keep in mind that certain items, such as pet food, may not qualify and would need to be purchased with another form of payment.*
Monthly allowances: Some D-SNPs have a monthly stipend, for example $25 – $75, that would be loaded to your card on the first day of each month. Members should aim to use their allotment before the end of each month, as the balance may not be able to be carried over.* Continue reading
(NAPSI)—For many Boomers, retirement may involve taking vacations, taking up a new hobby, and spending more time with family, friends and the grandchildren.
In anticipation of these activities, Boomers work diligently to build up their next egg. But as Boomers age, and as healthcare costs rise, one item they must account for is care in retirement. Unfortunately, too many are failing to prepare.
According to the Center for Secure Retirement and Bankers Life, 79% of middle-income Boomers have no money set aside specifically for their retirement care needs.
With this in mind, they should take the following steps to help protect their nest eggs:
1.Keep moving. Good physical health can lead to a more active life, improved mental and emotional health, and reduced medical expenses. By keeping yourself healthy and fit, you may be able to lower your premiums and potential future costs. Set time aside each day to stay active—your health and your bank account will thank you.
2.Save, save, save. It’s never too early to start financially planning for retirement care. Recent data from the Center for a Secure Retirement and Bankers Life shows that more than half (54%) of working adults say their retirement planning has taken a hit amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Protect yourself from further unforeseen impact by taking advantage of tools and resources that can help you better prepare for the high costs of long-term care. Continue reading
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NAPSI)—When it comes to succeeding in business, it’s important to know what not to say and how not to say it. Fortunately, a recent survey can help you and your firm avoid these pitfalls.
What Not To Say
For example, people have a low tolerance for work jargon. When asked what work phrases they hate the most, respondents replied:
1.Per my last e-mail: 32%
2.We’re all in this together: 32%
3.Blue sky thinking: 29%
4.Did you get that thing I sent you?: 28%
5.Let’s touch base: 27%
6.Let’s circle back: 23%
7.Can you get this to me EOD?: 23%
8.Let’s table that: 21%
9.Let’s get this offline: 12%
Essentially, the key to getting people to read and respond to a message is to keep it simple, keep it short and avoid clichés. The clearest communicators write the way they talk.
How Not To Say It
According to the research, respondents estimated they get 44 e-mails a day and 32 of them aren’t worth paying attention to. That comes to over 16,000 e-mails a year with 11,680 of them deemed a waste of time.
The survey from SizzleDeck, a software application that makes it easy for businesses to build, share and track phone-friendly landing pages, found more than half of Americans polled have difficulty clearing their work e-mail inbox.
Sending a text, however, is still an effective way to get attention. On average people check their phones 18 times during a day and are more than three times more likely to prefer to read text messages than open e-mails. In fact, three-quarters admit checking their phones first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Learn More
For further facts and tips, visit www.sizzledeck.com.
(NAPSI)—If your electricity goes out due to ice, a generator can keep power flowing to your home or business.
Just keep safety in mind when using generators, advises the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing small engine, utility vehicle and outdoor power equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
“Not having power when you need it is frustrating, so a generator can provide emergency backup power at a reasonable cost,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of OPEI. “It’s important to follow all manufacturer’s instructions, and never place a generator in your garage or inside your home or building. It should be a safe distance from the structure and not near an air intake.”
More tips include:
#1. Take stock of your generator. Make sure equipment is in good working order before starting and using it. Do this before a storm hits.
#2. Review the directions. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions. Review the owner’s manuals (look manuals up online if you cannot find them) so equipment is operated safely.
#3. Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home. This alarm will sound if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide enter the building.
#4. Have the right fuel on hand. Use the type of fuel recommended by the generator manufacturer to protect this important investment. It is illegal to use any fuel with more than 10% ethanol in outdoor power equipment. (For more information on proper fueling for outdoor power equipment visit www.LookBeforeYouPump.com.) It’s best to use fresh fuel, but if you are using fuel that has been sitting in a gas can for more than 30 days, add fuel stabilizer to it. Store gas only in an approved container and away from heat sources. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—Imagine this: consuming a few small bites a day can help you manage your weight and reduce your risk of diabetes, gallstones, heart disease and cancer. It’s not some new miracle drug, it’s that long-time favorite of kids and adults alike—the peanut.
Large population studies show that small amounts of peanuts and peanut butter in your daily diet can help reduce the chances of developing a chronic disease. Peanuts are a superfood because just a small handful delivers 19 vitamins and minerals that contribute to your overall good health.
Here’s more good news. Peanuts are both tasty and versatile and you can enjoy them in a variety of delicious dishes that are easy enough to make any day but special enough for the holidays, such as this one:
Peanut Butter Sweet Potato Casserole with Peanut Streusel Topping
Prep time: 25
Cook time: 1 hour 30 mins
Total: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 10 Continue reading
