Jacksonville FL — It’s called the Florida Veterans Protection Act and starting Thursday a new law that can increase penalties against people who target veterans for scams goes into effect. The new law will add the victimization of 10 or more veterans to the already existing White Collar Crime Victim Protection Act.
According to the bill anyone who scams, or tries to scam, 10 or more veterans out of at least $50,000 will then be charged with a first-degree felony.
According to the bill’s analysis the Federal Trade Commission in 2018 ranked Florida as first in the U.S. in fraud and fourth in identity theft. The analysis says one-third of the victims of investment fraud are veterans even through they make up less than 10% of the population in the U.S.
The bill passed both the Florida House and Senate unanimously back in March.
Cox Media Group
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