TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is fighting to protect children online. Attorney General Moody, along with 31 other attorneys general, is urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, crucial legislation that protects children from online harm, before the end of the year. Attorney General Moody and the coalition are emphasizing the need to address the growing crisis of youth mental health linked to social media use, with studies showing minors spend more than five hours daily online.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “As the mother of a school-aged child, I am extremely concerned about how social media is affecting the mental health of our children. As Florida’s Attorney General, I am joining my colleagues in asking Congress to put into place simple measures to protect minors online.”

In a letter to congressional leadership, Attorney General Moody and the coalition highlighted several key provisions of KOSA that would enhance online protections for minors: Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is recognizing Utility Scam Awareness Day by issuing tips to help Floridians avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes. Utility scams occur when scammers impersonate utility companies and pressure ratepayers to make an immediate payment under the threat of having their power terminated. According to one report last year, more than 500 Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas customers and more than 1,300 Duke Energy customers reported utility scam attempts. Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Power-Off Fraud contains tips and information about these schemes to help Floridians avoid falling victim.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Utility scams are a threat to Floridians, with scammers constantly finding new ways to trick ratepayers out of their money. Utility Scam Awareness Day serves as an important reminder for all Floridians to stay vigilant against these schemes. Our Scams at a Glance: Power-Off Fraud resource can help Floridians recognize the signs of utility fraud, and I encourage ratepayers to use this tool to stay informed and avoid falling victim.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging three members of an organized crime ring with multiple felony counts for stealing from retailers in South Florida. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigation, Ariel McFarlane, Lequentin Butler and Eddy Etienne committed more than 35 thefts in Palm Beach and Broward counties in a four-month period. The group targeted major retailers and stole items from laundry detergent to fragrances and expensive clothing.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “All the laundry detergent and perfume in the state of Florida couldn’t cover up the stench of guilt emanating from these organized retail thieves. They committed more than 35 thefts from multiple retailers in South Florida, stealing more than $15,000 worth of laundry detergent, fragrances and expensive clothing. Now, my statewide prosecutors will make sure they pay for this four-month crime spree spanning multiple counties.” Continue reading →