Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 20, 2026 Middlesex Sheriff joins national public service campaign to warn community: Don’t let scammers steal your future R ads online to deceive Americans — often posing as law enforcement, legitimate businesses or people that victims trust. Americans now see an estimated 15 billion fraudulent ads online every day, and last year consumers lost $12.5 billion nationwide to frauds and scams, according to federal estimates and internal social media platform documents. These crimes range from romance and investment schemes to fake “tech support” and impersonation frauds that can drain life savings and destroy credit. “The same scams we are seeing here in Middlesex County are happening across the nation,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “These are not confined to any portion of the country or demographic group – they target us all. In fact, a member of my own team recently received a fake arrest warrant via text.” These criminals rush their victims. They pressure them. They demand money or personal information — often using fear and urgency to override common sense. Law enforcement officials urge residents to remember five simple steps: • Slow down • Verify • Hang up • Don’t click • Don’t send money “If you receive one of these suspicious calls, texts or emails demanding immediate action, we want you to stop, slow the situation down and check with a trusted loved one, friend or professional,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “The last thing these criminals want to do is allow you the time to check on what they are saying. This pressure alone, is a key sign of a scam and we’d encourage you to contact local law enforcement immediately.” “Sheriffs across the country are fighting back, but local law enforcement cannot do it alone,” NSA Executive Director/CEO Justin Smith said. “The National Sheriffs’ Association is calling on Congress and the Trump Administration to keep the pressure on criminal networks, with tougher enecently, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian joined a nationwide public safety campaign, led by the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), to strengthen public awareness about fraud and scams targeting communities across the country. As part of the initiative, Sheriff Koutoujian joined more than a dozen sheriffs nationwide to record Public Service Announcements now being distributed for broadcast on television and radio stations warning the public about increasingly sophisticated scam operations. Criminal networks are using phone calls, text messages, social media and fraudulent forcement, real accountability for bad actors, and additional resources to shut these operations down—many of which operate overseas and target Americans at scale.” As part of its efforts to educate and inform the public about ongoing scams, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is partnering with local law enforcement colleagues, Councils on Aging and other organizations to conduct scam awareness and prevention discussions. If you would like more info, or if you or your organization is interested in hosting a discussion, please visit middlesexsheriff.org, where you can find their Community Presentation Form. You can also find more info on the NSA website at www.sheriffs.org/stopscams. Study: An Average American Spends up to 3 Months a Year Earning Enough Just for Rent, Groceries, and Saving For a Used Car Compared to 2007, the average American now works 7 extra workdays yearly to pay for the same basics A mericans are sacrificing weeks of their lives each year just to stand still financially, according to new analysis from InvestorsObserver. Despite strong wage growth since 2007, rising costs for rent, groceries, and used cars now force many workers to spend up to three months of the year covering only the basics. Americans Working Longer Just to Afford the Basics Nearly 20 years after the 2008 financial crisis, hourly wages are up 65.6% nationwide, rising from an average of 20.75 dollars in 2007 to roughly 34.35 dollars in 2025. Yet essential costs have far outpaced paychecks, leaving Americans trading more of their time for the same standard of living their parents could once afford. Today, the average American works 66 full days a year just to cover rent, groceries, and save for a used car. Compared to 2007, that’s seven extra eighth-hour workdays a year simply to maintain basic living standards, or roughly one additional work hour every week lost to inflation-driven costs. “It’s the extra hour you’re working every single week just to stand still. Families are giving up vacations, weekends, and time with their kids so they can keep a roof overhead, put food on the table, and slowly save for a used car. When a third of the year is spent just earning the basics, the American dream stops beSTUDY | SEE PAGE 7
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