A new study from “A-A-R-P’s Fraud-Watch Network” finds that many holiday-shoppers—including throughout Mississippi—might be opening themselves up to risk. Kimberly L- Campbell is “A-A-R-P Mississippi’s” state-director…

“The study finds that two-thirds of Americans will use their debit-cards—even though credit-cards and digital wallets are safer to use online. Roughly two-thirds also plan to purchase gift-cards, with the majority buying them off the rack—even though that’s a known target for scammers.”

And, because scammers use a number of tactics, Campbell offers these additional tips…

“Do research on charities before donating. Decline requests for your login-credentials—even if they’re supposedly from a customer-support staffer. Be wary of ads that tout unbelievable deals. Avoid clicking on ads, since they can link to a fake site, or cause you to download malicious software; that’s a big reason for keeping your operating-systems and antivirus-protections up-to-date. And, ask delivery-companies to leave packages in an obscure place, instead of outside your front door—or, if that’s not possible, make arrangements to pick them up yourself.”

To learn more about staying safe from holiday-scams, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“fraud-watch-network”—or call 1-877-908-3360.

As Congress begins to wrap up business later this month, it is still considering a new incentive to encourage people to buy electric vehicles. But, instead of giving the same cash-incentive for all electric vehicles made in the U-S, some Democrats want to specifically give an extra 45-hundred dollars—if the vehicle is made by unionized workers. Susan Elkington—the president of Toyota’s plant in Georgetown, Kentucky—says that this is unfair to half of the nation’s autoworkers…

“Our facility here in Kentucky is Toyota’s largest auto-manufacturing plant in the world—and I have the privilege of serving as its president. More than nine-thousand workers proudly build half-a-million vehicles, each year, at our plant. But, as we transition to an electric future, how do I explain to our employees that some in Congress believe [that] every vehicle [that] they make is worth 45-hundred dollars less—just because they decided not to join a union? Not only that, but as taxpayers, they’re actually paying to give an unfair advantage to their competitors at Ford, G-M, and Chrysler. That’s just wrong. Half of America’s autoworkers aren’t part of a union. Congress should give the same incentives for all electric vehicles made by American workers—no matter who their employer is. Let’s make the environment, consumers, and all [of] the nation’s autoworkers the priority—not the politics of promoting unionization.”

While “COVID-19” may have exposed issues in Florida’s nursing-homes and other long-term-care facilities, those problems definitely aren’t new. That’s according to Jeff Johnson—the state-director of “A-A-R-P Florida”—who adds that lawmakers should focus on the increased need for accountability and safety in Florida’s long-term-care system…

“Even before the pandemic, some facilities were being cited repeatedly for not following basic infection-control procedures—like washing hands, before interacting with another resident. Other facilities have had chronic, ongoing problems with understaffing—or with discharging residents inappropriately. So, we really need to double-down on ensuring that nursing-homes are safe places to live—and that they provide high-quality care. Unfortunately, some lawmakers here in Florida are proposing moving in the opposite direction—by trying to lower the current staffing-standard for direct-care nursing in these facilities. We need to put the safety and well-being of the residents first; they deserve the best care, instead of policies that both risk their safety and remove accountability from nursing-home operators.”

To learn more, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“f-l”.

This Wednesday [December 1st], “A-A-R-P Maryland” will hold a series of online events—with experts from law-enforcement and consumer-protection agencies—to help Marylanders protect themselves against holiday-fraud. Hank Greenberg is the group’s state-director…

“Scammers deploy a number of tactics during the holidays—including scams that target online shopping, involve the draining of gift-cards, or relate to shipping packages. What’s more, a new study from ‘A-A-R-P’s Fraud-Watch Network’ finds that many holiday-shoppers—including throughout Maryland—might be opening themselves up to risk. Worryingly, the study finds that a full two-thirds of Americans will use their debit-cards—even though both credit-cards and digital wallets are safer to use online. And, roughly two-thirds also plan to purchase gift-cards, with the majority buying them off the rack—even though that’s a known target for scammers.”

The events for Wednesday’s “Fight Holiday-Fraud Day” start at nine a-m. For the full schedule and more information, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“m-d”.

As Americans gear up for the holiday-season, the continuing pandemic will drive more shoppers online. According to the “U-S Chamber of Commerce”, this will also embolden criminals peddling counterfeit goods—so shoppers need to take extra care. Kasie [like “Casey”] Brill is with the Chamber’s “Global Innovation Policy Center”…

“Physical counterfeiting already costs the global economy over half-a-trillion dollars, each year. And, criminals have adapted to our new online-shopping ‘normal’—with convincing imagery and schemes, to trick consumers into buying their fake goods. Many of these items can be downright dangerous.”

Online marketplaces are working with brand-owners—to remove counterfeit advertising and fraudulent listings. And, the Chamber has launched the “Shop Smart”-campaign—to alert consumers of the threat…

“We’re educating consumers about the serious threat of counterfeit goods—and how to avoid being scammed. Whatever you’re shopping for, you can almost guarantee that there’s already a counterfeit version on the market.”

For tips and more information from the “Shop Smart”-campaign, visit “u-s-chamber”-dot-com-slash-“shop-smart”.

Medicare-plans can change from year to year. And, now’s the time for Pennsylvanians to look at their own coverage—and to make any changes that might be needed for 2022. That’s according to Angela Foreshaw-Rouse—“A-A-R-P Pennsylvania’s” community-engagement manager…

“During Medicare’s annual open-enrollment period—which runs through December 7th—you can either join or switch plans, for both healthcare and prescription-drugs. Each year, there are slight changes—and this year is no different. That’s why it pays to compare what you have now, with all your choices for 2022; you could find better coverage, save some money, or even both. Now’s the time to make sure that you have the health- and prescription-coverage that’s best for you—as this year’s open-enrollment period is almost done.”

Foreshaw-Rouse adds that help in comparing plans is available at “medicare”-dot-gov—and via Pennsylvania’s official “P-A MEDI”-helpline, at 1-800-783-7067. More information is also available at “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“medicare”.

Veterans, active-duty service-members, and their families are nearly 40-percent more likely than civilians to lose money to fraud. That’s according to a new, national report from “A-A-R-P”—which also finds that four-in-five were targeted by a scam directly relating to either their military-service, or the benefits that they receive. Stacy Pennington is “A-A-R-P Tennessee’s” associate state-director for outreach…

“Almost half-a-million veterans live in Tennessee—and three-fourths of them are age-50 or older. Our research shows that scammers are taking aim at this community at alarming rates: They often use military-jargon and specific government-guidelines to craft an effective pitch for theft. Indeed, one-in-three military- or veteran-adults, nationally, report actually losing money to a service-related scam. This emphasizes the importance of staying up-to-date on the latest scams—and how to avoid them. Knowing the red flags can help veterans, service-members, and their families not only avoid losing money—but also avoid the subsequent emotional toll.”

“Operation Protect Veterans” is a joint program of “A-A-R-P’s Fraud-Watch Network”, and the “U-S Postal-Inspection Service”. To learn more, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“veterans”.

Veterans, active-duty service-members, and their families are nearly 40-percent more likely than civilians to lose money to fraud. That’s according to a new, national report from “A-A-R-P”—which also finds that four-in-five were targeted by a scam directly relating to either their military-service, or the benefits that they receive. The Reverend Jim Thurman is a volunteer on veterans-issues for “A-A-R-P Kentucky”…

“Our research shows that scammers are taking aim at this community at alarming rates: They often use military-jargon and specific government-guidelines to craft an effective pitch for theft. Indeed, one-in-three military- or veteran-adults report actually losing money to a service-related scam. This emphasizes the importance of staying up-to-date on the latest scams—and how to avoid them. Knowing the red flags can help veterans, service-members, and their families not only avoid losing money—but also avoid the subsequent emotional toll.”

“Operation Protect Veterans” is a joint program of “A-A-R-P’s Fraud-Watch Network”, and the “U-S Postal-Inspection Service”. To learn more, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“veterans”.

(The updated rankings for all states—plus D.C.—are available at https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/your-hospitals-safety-grade/state-rankings.)

-- GENERAL/NATIONAL WRAP (:60) --

Some hospitals are better at protecting their patients than others. That’s why the nonprofit watchdog, “The Leapfrog Group”, issues its “Hospital-Safety Grade”, twice a year; the report features a letter-grade of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “F” that’s assigned, by experts, to the nation’s general-hospitals. Leah Binder [like “bind”, not “bin”] is “Leapfrog’s” president and C-E-O…

“This has been a hard year for everyone—especially frontline-workers at hospitals. Our well-being depends on their safety—and the safety of the patients whom they care for. But sadly, even before the pandemic, safety has been a problem in hospitals; in fact, more than 500 people, each day, die of preventable infections and medical errors. That’s why our grades are important—especially now. Someday, every hospital will earn an ‘A’; until then, you can protect yourself, by finding the safest hospital that’s available for you.”

To compare local hospitals, for free, visit “hospital-safety-grade”-dot-org.

-- ADDITIONAL SOUNDBITES FOR FIVE HIGHLIGHTED STATES --

Florida:

“In our latest ‘Hospital-Safety Grade’, we gave 36-percent of Florida’s hospitals an ‘A’. Those hospitals are making it a priority to protect their patients from both medical errors and infections; that means [that] many lives in Florida are being saved. You can find the grades of your local hospitals at ‘hospital-safety-grade’-dot-org.”

North Carolina:

“In our latest ‘Hospital-Safety Grade’, North Carolina ranks second in the nation; we gave more than half of North Carolina’s hospitals an ‘A’. Those hospitals are making it a priority to protect their patients from both medical errors and infections; that means [that] many lives in North Carolina are being saved. You can find the grades of your local hospitals at ‘hospital-safety-grade’-dot-org.”

Ohio:

“In our latest ‘Hospital-Safety Grade’, we gave 34-percent of Ohio’s hospitals an ‘A’. Those hospitals are making it a priority to protect their patients from both medical errors and infections; that means [that] many lives in Ohio are being saved. You can find the grades of your local hospitals at ‘hospital-safety-grade’-dot-org.”

Pennsylvania:

“In our latest ‘Hospital-Safety Grade’, we gave a full 46-percent of Pennsylvania’s hospitals an ‘A’. Those hospitals are making it a priority to protect their patients from both medical errors and infections; that means [that] many lives in Pennsylvania are being saved. You can find the grades of your local hospitals at ‘hospital-safety-grade’-dot-org.”

Virginia:

“In our latest ‘Hospital-Safety Grade’, Virginia ranks first in the nation; we gave more than half of Virginia’s hospitals an ‘A’. Those hospitals are making it a priority to protect their patients from both medical errors and infections; that means [that] many lives in Virginia are being saved. You can find the grades of your local hospitals at ‘hospital-safety-grade’-dot-org.”

Some members-of-Congress have proposed creating a new tax-incentive to purchase electric vehicles; however, they want to give an extra cash-incentive, exclusively for vehicles built by unionized workers at G-M, Ford, and Stellantis—the new name for Chrysler. Jack Hollis, of “Toyota Motor North America”, says that—in addition to being counterproductive—such legislation would be unfair to consumers, and to the thousands of autoworkers who have chosen not to join a union…

“We believe that the future of automobiles is electric. And, to speed the transition to that electric future, we believe that Congress needs to provide incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles. However, under this current legislation, consumers who want to buy an electric vehicle that isn’t made by Ford, G-M, or Stellantis would have to pay an extra 45-hundred dollars. This suggests that having more electric vehicles on the road is actually secondary to promoting unionization. We urge Congress to treat all of the nation’s autoworkers fairly and equitably—and to let consumers choose the best electric vehicle for them, without penalizing anyone because of their choice. Consumers and the environment should be the priority: We believe that any incentive should apply equally—to all electric vehicles assembled by American autoworkers.”

To learn more, visit “autos-drive-america”-dot-org.