III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 506 

Supporting the designation of May 15, 2018, as ‘‘National Senior Fraud 

Awareness Day’’ to raise awareness about the increasing number of 

fraudulent schemes targeted at older people of the United States, to 

encourage the implementation of policies to prevent these scams from 

happening, and to improve protections from these scams for seniors. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 10, 2018 

Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. CASEY, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. NELSON, and Ms. CORTEZ MASTO) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 

and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of May 15, 2018, as ‘‘National 

Senior Fraud Awareness Day’’ to raise awareness about 

the increasing number of fraudulent schemes targeted 

at older people of the United States, to encourage the 

implementation of policies to prevent these scams from 

happening, and to improve protections from these scams 

for seniors. 

Whereas, in 2017, there were more than 47,800,000 individuals age 65 or older in the United States (referred to in 

this preamble as ‘‘seniors’’), and seniors accounted for 

14.9 percent of the total population of the United States; 


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•SRES 506 ATS 

Whereas senior fraud is a growing concern as millions of 

older people of the United States are targeted by scams 

each year, including the Internal Revenue Service impersonation scams, sweepstakes and lottery scams, grandparent scams, computer tech support scams, romance 

scams, work-at-home scams, charity 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 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 

7,200 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 2017, released by the Federal Trade Commission, 

people age 60 years and older were defrauded of 

$249,000,000 in 2017, with the median loss to defrauded 

victims age 80 and older averaging $1,092 per person, 


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more than double the average amount lost by those victims between the ages 50 and 59 years old; 

Whereas senior fraud is underreported by victims due to embarrassment and lack of information about where to report fraud; and 

Whereas May 15, 2018, is an appropriate day to establish as 

‘‘National Senior Fraud Awareness Day’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of May 15, 2018, 

3 as ‘‘National Senior Fraud Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) recognizes ‘‘National Senior Fraud Aware5 ness Day’’ as an opportunity to raise awareness 

6 about the barrage of scams that individuals age 65 

7 or older in the United States (referred to in this re8 solving clause as ‘‘seniors’’) face in person, by mail, 

9 on the phone, and online; 

10 (3) recognizes that law enforcement, consumer 

11 protection groups, area agencies on aging, and fi12 nancial institutions all play vital roles in preventing 

13 scams targeting seniors and educating seniors about 

14 those scams; 

15 (4) encourages implementation of policies to 

16 prevent these scams and to improve measures to 

17 protect seniors from scams targeting seniors; and 


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1 (5) honors the commitment and dedication of 

2 the individuals and organizations who work tirelessly 

3 to fight against scams targeting seniors. 

Æ 


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