ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is partnering with the Florida Attorney General's Office to help protect seniors in Northeast Florida from exploitation.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick announced the county's adoption of the statewide Seniors vs. Crime program.
The program seeks to provide a free resource for seniors in St. Johns County who are victims of exploitation.
"Unfortunately, we routinely work cases where our seniors have fallen victim to scams. This program adds another layer of protection and will assist us in reducing crime to one of our most vulnerable populations," said St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick. "I’d like to thank Attorney General Moody for her partnership and for her office’s laser focus on this initiative.”
Older residents can talk with volunteers, called Senior Sleuths, to help prevent them from being victimized by scams or scammers.
Since the creation of the program, Senior Sleuths have provided over 90,000 hours of free services for the state of Florida and helped nearly 8,000 seniors in 2022. Since 2019, the program has helped secure $7.9 million in recovery funds for seniors. Across the state in 2022, Seniors vs. Crime obtained an estimated $2.4 in financial relief and realized gains.
The new location will help serve seniors living in St. Johns County who previously had to drive to Nassau County to receive help.
"Our Seniors vs. Crime program continues to grow, providing relief to older Floridians," said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. "When it comes to helping victims of scams, time is of the essence. With this new office, St. Johns County seniors no longer need to drive more than an hour away for help—increasing the chances of financial recovery. I encourage older Floridians in need to utilize this free resource.”
The new Seniors vs. Crime office in St. Johns County will be the 32nd office opened in Florida.