Protecting Your Future: Insights from Kathy Stokes AARP's Fraud Watch Network, Episode #172

Mitlin Money Mindset

Consumer fraud is an issue that’s run rampant for too long. And when it impacts the elderly, it’s heartbreaking. Kathy Stokes—the Director of Fraud Prevention Programs with AARP—is passionate about educating older adults on the risks that fraud represents to their financial security.

Since 2019, she and her team have vastly expanded AARP’s leadership in this space, including the creation of a new victim support program, a multi-year campaign to end the use of gift cards in fraud, and the formation of a national effort to fundamentally transform how our country addresses consumer fraud.

Listen in to learn more about Kathy’s mission to eradicate fraud by educating older adults on what to look out for—and avoid—to protect their financial security.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• Learn more about Kathy Stokes [2:55]
• How Kathy became the head of AARP’s Fraud Watch Network [5:22]
• The mission of AARP’s Fraud Watch Network [6:44]
• What is financial crime? [9:07]
• Why isn’t financial crime taken seriously? [12:12]
• Check out “Financial Planning Made Personal” [13:50]
• How to protect yourself from financial scams [14:26]
• Should you use a monitoring service? [18:01]
• The sad tale of a romance scam 19:10]
• Why the language we use matters [25:01]
• Changing the narrative: Fraud victims are crime victims [27:09]
• What Kathy did today that put her in the right mindset for success [33:56]

Resources & People Mentioned

• AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360
• Blame and Shame in the Context of Financial Fraud
• Check out “Financial Planning Made Personal”
• IRS Phone Scam, Episode #94

Connect with Kathy Stokes

• The website
• On Twitter
• On Linkedin
• On Facebook

Connect With Mitlin Financial

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Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset Show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest's content linked on this site.

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