Bill Summary
This resolution designates May 15, 2020 as "National Senior Fraud Awareness Day" in order to raise awareness about the increasing number of fraudulent schemes targeting older adults in the United States. It acknowledges the wide range of scams targeting seniors, including Social Security impersonation, health care fraud, and coronavirus-related scams. The resolution also highlights the alarming amount of money that seniors lose each year to these schemes and the importance of preventing and protecting against them. It recognizes the efforts of law enforcement, consumer protection groups, and financial institutions in combatting senior fraud and encourages the implementation of policies to prevent and protect against these scams.
Possible Impacts
1. This resolution could lead to the creation of educational programs and resources for seniors to help them identify and avoid potential scams, which could help protect them from financial exploitation.
2. Law enforcement agencies may allocate more resources and attention towards investigating and prosecuting scams targeting seniors, potentially leading to a decrease in the number of seniors becoming victims of fraud.
3. Financial institutions may implement stricter security measures and fraud prevention protocols to protect their senior customers from falling victim to fraudulent schemes. This could lead to increased safety and peace of mind for seniors when conducting financial transactions.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 590 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 590
Supporting the designation of May 15, 2020, as ``National Senior Fraud
Awareness Day'' to raise awareness about the increasing number of
fraudulent schemes targeting seniors in the United States, to encourage
the implementation of policies to prevent those schemes, and to improve
protections from those schemes for seniors.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 20, 2020
Ms. Collins (for herself, Ms. Sinema, Ms. McSally, Mr. Rubio, Mr.
Hawley, Mr. Casey, Mr. Jones, Ms. Warren, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Scott of
South Carolina, Mr. Braun, and Ms. Rosen) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of May 15, 2020, as ``National Senior Fraud
Awareness Day'' to raise awareness about the increasing number of
fraudulent schemes targeting seniors in the United States, to encourage
the implementation of policies to prevent those schemes, and to improve
protections from those schemes for seniors.
Whereas millions of older adults in the United States (referred to in this
preamble as ``seniors'') are targeted by scams each year, including
Social Security impersonation scams and Internal Revenue Service
impersonation scams, sweepstakes scams, romance scams, computer tech
support scams, grandparent scams, debt scams, home improvement scams,
fraudulent investment schemes, and identity theft;
Whereas other types of fraud perpetrated against seniors include health care
fraud, health insurance fraud, counterfeit prescription drug fraud,
funeral and cemetery fraud, ``anti-aging'' product fraud, telemarketing
fraud, and internet fraud;
Whereas, in 2020, scammers are exploiting the ongoing coronavirus crisis to prey
on seniors through a variety of scams, including economic impact payment
scams, test kit scams, contact tracing scams, and work-from-home scams;
Whereas the Government Accountability Office has estimated that seniors lose a
staggering $2,900,000,000 each year to an ever-growing array of
financial exploitation schemes and scams;
Whereas, since 2013, the fraud hotline of the Special Committee on Aging of the
Senate has received more than 9,500 complaints reporting possible scams
from individuals in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
Whereas the ease with which criminals contact seniors through the internet and
telephone increases as more creative schemes emerge;
Whereas, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2019 released by
the Federal Trade Commission, people age 60 or older reported losing
approximately $445,000,000 to fraud in 2019, with a median loss for
victims age 80 or older of $1,600, more than triple the median amount
lost by victims between the ages of 50 and 59;
Whereas senior fraud is underreported by victims due to shame, stigma, and lack
of information about where to report fraud; and
Whereas May 15, 2020, is an appropriate day to establish as ``National Senior
Fraud Awareness Day'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the designation of May 15, 2020, as ``National
Senior Fraud Awareness Day'';
(2) recognizes National Senior Fraud Awareness Day as an
opportunity to raise awareness about the barrage of scams that
individuals age 65 or older in the United States (referred to
in this resolution as ``seniors'') face in person, by mail, on
the phone, and online;
(3) recognizes that law enforcement, consumer protection
groups, area agencies on aging, and financial institutions all
play vital roles in--
(A) preventing the proliferation of scams targeting
seniors in the United States; and
(B) educating seniors about those scams;
(4) encourages--
(A) the implementation of policies to prevent scams
targeting seniors; and
(B) the improvement of efforts to protect seniors
from those scams; and
(5) honors the commitment and dedication of the individuals
and organizations that work tirelessly to fight against scams
targeting seniors.
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