IB 

Union Calendar No. 488 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 2610 

[Report No. 116–590] 

To establish a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Council to collect and 

disseminate model educational materials useful in identifying and preventing scams that affect seniors. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 9, 2019 

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER (for herself and Mr. WALBERG) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 

Additional sponsors: Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mrs. AXNE, Ms. NORTON, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. BRINDISI, Mr. 

CASE, Ms. MENG, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. HUDSON, Mr. 

MCADAMS, Ms. OMAR, Ms. SHERRILL, Mr. O’HALLERAN, Mr. 

CA ́RDENAS, Mr. RUSH, Ms. FINKENAUER, Mr. DEUTCH, Ms. KELLY of 

Illinois, Mr. LUJA ́N, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, 

Mr. WELCH, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. COX of California, Mr. LARSON

of Connecticut, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. HIGGINS of New York, Mrs. HAYES, Ms. 

ADAMS, and Mr. TAYLOR


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NOVEMBER 16, 2020 

Reported with amendments; committed to the Committee of the Whole House 

on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 9, 2019] 

A BILL 

To establish a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Council 

to collect and disseminate model educational materials 

useful in identifying and preventing scams that affect 

seniors. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Fraud and Scam Reduction Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Commission defined. 

TITLE I—PREVENTING CONSUMER SCAMS DIRECTED AT SENIORS 

Sec. 101. Short title. 

Sec. 102. Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group. 

TITLE II—SENIOR FRAUD ADVISORY OFFICE 

Sec. 201. Short title. 

Sec. 202. Senior Fraud Advisory Office. 

TITLE III—PREVENTING THE TARGETING OF SENIORS DURING 

EMERGENCIES 

Sec. 301. Short title. 

Sec. 302. FTC report on scams targeting seniors during emergencies. 

Sec. 303. Increasing awareness of scams targeting seniors. 

TITLE IV—PREVENTING SCAMS TARGETING INDIAN TRIBES 

Sec. 401. Short title. 

Sec. 402. FTC report on unfair or deceptive acts or practices targeting Indian 

Tribes. 

TITLE V—ENHANCING CONSUMER PROTECTION ENFORCEMENT 

Sec. 501. Short title. 

Sec. 502. Unfair and deceptive practices cooperation study. 

8 SEC. 2. COMMISSION DEFINED. 

9 In this Act, the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal 

10 Trade Commission. 


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1 TITLE I—PREVENTING CON2 SUMER SCAMS DIRECTED AT 

3 SENIORS 

4 SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 

5 This title may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Senior Scams 

6 Act’’. 

7 SEC. 102. SENIOR SCAMS PREVENTION ADVISORY GROUP. 

8 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF SENIOR SCAMS PREVENTION

9 ADVISORY GROUP.—There is established a Senior Scams 

10 Prevention Advisory Group (referred to in this section as 

11 the ‘‘Advisory Group’’). 

12 (b) MEMBERS.—The Advisory Group shall be com13 posed of stakeholders such as the following individuals or 

14 the designees of such individuals: 

15 (1) The Chairman of the Federal Trade Commis16 sion. 

17 (2) The Secretary of the Treasury. 

18 (3) The Attorney General. 

19 (4) The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Fi20 nancial Protection. 

21 (5) Representatives from each of the following 

22 sectors, including trade associations, to be selected by 

23 Federal Trade Commission: 

24 (A) Retail. 

25 (B) Gift cards. 


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1 (C) Telecommunications. 

2 (D) Wire-transfer services. 

3 (E) Senior peer advocates. 

4 (F) Consumer advocacy organizations with 

5 efforts focused on preventing seniors from becom6 ing the victims of scams. 

7 (G) Financial services, including institu8 tions that engage in digital currency. 

9 (H) Prepaid cards. 

10 (6) A member of the Board of Governors of the 

11 Federal Reserve System. 

12 (7) A prudential regulator, as defined in section 

13 1002 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 

14 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5481). 

15 (8) The Director of the Financial Crimes En16 forcement Network. 

17 (9) Any other Federal, State, or local agency, in18 dustry representative, consumer advocate, or entity, 

19 as determined by the Federal Trade Commission. 

20 (c) NO COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS.—A member of 

21 the Advisory Group shall serve without compensation in ad22 dition to any compensation received for the service of the 

23 member as an officer or employee of the United States, if 

24 applicable. 

25 (d) DUTIES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Group shall— 

2 (A) collect information on the existence, use, 

3 and success of educational materials and pro4 grams for retailers, financial services, and wire5 transfer companies, which— 

6 (i) may be used as a guide to educate 

7 employees on how to identify and prevent 

8 scams that affect seniors; and 

9 (ii) include— 

10 (I) useful information for retail11 ers, financial services, and wire trans12 fer companies for the purpose described 

13 in clause (i); 

14 (II) training for employees on 

15 ways to identify and prevent senior 

16 scams; 

17 (III) best practices for keeping 

18 employees up to date on current scams; 

19 (IV) the most effective signage and 

20 placement in retail locations to warn 

21 seniors about scammers’ use of gift 

22 cards, prepaid cards, and wire transfer 

23 services; 


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1 (V) suggestions on effective col2 laborative community education cam3 paigns; 

4 (VI) available technology to assist 

5 in identifying possible scams at the 

6 point of sale; and 

7 (VII) other information that 

8 would be helpful to retailers, wire 

9 transfer companies, financial institu10 tions, and their employees as they work 

11 to prevent fraud affecting seniors; and 

12 (B) based on the findings in subparagraph 

13 (A)— 

14 (i) identify inadequacies, omissions, or 

15 deficiencies in those educational materials 

16 and programs for the categories listed in 

17 subparagraph (A) and their execution in 

18 reaching employees to protect older adults; 

19 and 

20 (ii) create model materials, best prac21 tices guidance, or recommendations to fill 

22 those inadequacies, omissions, or defi23 ciencies that may be used by industry and 

24 others to help protect older adults from 

25 scams. 


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1 (2) ENCOURAGED USE.—The Federal Trade 

2 Commission shall— 

3 (A) make the materials or guidance created 

4 by the Federal Trade Commission described in 

5 paragraph (1) publicly available; and 

6 (B) encourage the use and distribution of 

7 the materials created under this subsection to 

8 prevent scams affecting seniors by governmental 

9 agencies and the private sector. 

10 (e) REPORTS.—Section 101(c)(2) of the Elder Abuse 

11 Prevention and Prosecution Act (34 U.S.C. 21711(c)(2)) is 

12 amended— 

13 (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

14 the end; 

15 (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period 

16 at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

17 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(E) for the Federal Trade Commission, in 

19 relevant years, information on— 

20 ‘‘(i) the newly created materials, guid21 ance, or recommendations of the Senior 

22 Scams Prevention Advisory Group estab23 lished under section 2 of the Stop Senior 

24 Scams Act, and any relevant views or con25 siderations made by members of the AdviVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:11 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H2610.RH H2610

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1 sory Group that were not included in the 

2 Advisory Group’s model materials or con3 sidered an official recommendation by the 

4 Advisory Group; 

5 ‘‘(ii) the Senior Scams Prevention Ad6 visory Group’s findings about senior scams 

7 and industry educational materials and 

8 programs; and 

9 ‘‘(iii) any recommendations on ways 

10 stakeholders can continue to work together 

11 to reduce scams affecting seniors.’’. 

12 (f) TERMINATION.—This Act, and the amendments 

13 made by this Act, ceases to be effective on the date that is 

14 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 

15 TITLE II—SENIOR FRAUD 

16 ADVISORY OFFICE 

17 SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 

18 This title may be cited as the ‘‘Seniors Fraud Preven19 tion Act of 2020’’. 

20 SEC. 202. SENIOR FRAUD ADVISORY OFFICE. 

21 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY OFFICE.—The Fed22 eral Trade Commission shall establish an office within the 

23 Bureau of Consumer Protection for the purpose of advising 

24 the Commission on the prevention of fraud targeting seniors 

25 and to assist the Commission with the following: 


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1 (1) OVERSIGHT.—The advisory office shall mon2 itor the market for mail, television, internet, tele3 marketing, and recorded message telephone call (here4 inafter referred to as ‘‘robocall’’) fraud targeting sen5 iors and shall coordinate with other relevant agencies 

6 regarding the requirements of this section. 

7 (2) CONSUMER EDUCATION.—The Commission 

8 through the advisory office shall, in consultation with 

9 the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and 

10 Human Services, the Postmaster General, the Chief 

11 Postal Inspector for the United States Postal Inspec12 tion Service, and other relevant agencies— 

13 (A) disseminate to seniors and families and 

14 caregivers of seniors general information on 

15 mail, television, internet, telemarketing, and 

16 robocall fraud targeting seniors, including de17 scriptions of the most common fraud schemes; 

18 (B) disseminate to seniors and families and 

19 caregivers of seniors information on reporting 

20 complaints of fraud targeting seniors either to 

21 the national toll-free telephone number estab22 lished by the Commission for reporting such 

23 complaints, or to the Consumer Sentinel Net24 work, operated by the Commission, where such 

25 complaints will become immediately available to 


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1 appropriate law enforcement agencies, including 

2 the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the at3 torneys general of the States; 

4 (C) in response to a specific request about 

5 a particular entity or individual, provide pub6 lically available information of enforcement ac7 tion taken by the Commission for mail, tele8 vision, internet, telemarketing, and robocall 

9 fraud against such entity; and 

10 (D) maintain a website to serve as a re11 source for information for seniors and families 

12 and caregivers of seniors regarding mail, tele13 vision, internet, telemarketing, robocall, and 

14 other identified fraud targeting seniors. 

15 (3) COMPLAINTS.—The Commission through the 

16 advisory office shall, in consultation with the Attor17 ney General, establish procedures to— 

18 (A) log and acknowledge the receipt of com19 plaints by individuals who believe they have been 

20 a victim of mail, television, internet, tele21 marketing, and robocall fraud in the Consumer 

22 Sentinel Network, and shall make those com23 plaints immediately available to Federal, State, 

24 and local law enforcement authorities; and 


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1 (B) provide to individuals described in sub2 paragraph (A), and to any other persons, spe3 cific and general information on mail, television, 

4 internet, telemarketing, and robocall fraud, in5 cluding descriptions of the most common schemes 

6 using such methods of communication. 

7 (b) COMMENCEMENT.—The Commission shall com8 mence carrying out the requirements of this section not later 

9 than one year after the date of enactment of this Act. 

10 TITLE III—PREVENTING THE 

11 TARGETING OF SENIORS DUR12 ING EMERGENCIES 

13 SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 

14 This title may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Seniors from 

15 Emergency Scams Act’’. 

16 SEC. 302. FTC REPORT ON SCAMS TARGETING SENIORS 

17 DURING EMERGENCIES. 

18 Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 

19 this Act, the Federal Trade Commission (referred to in this 

20 Act as the ‘‘Commission’’) shall submit a report to Congress 

21 including— 

22 (1) a description of the number and types of 

23 scams identified by the Commission as being targeted 

24 at senior citizens; and 


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1 (2) policy recommendations to prevent such 

2 scams, especially as such scams relate to future na3 tional emergencies. 

4 SEC. 303. INCREASING AWARENESS OF SCAMS TARGETING 

5 SENIORS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the 

7 date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall update 

8 its web portal to include the latest information, searchable 

9 by region and type of scam, on scams targeting seniors, in10 cluding contacts for relevant law enforcement and adult 

11 protective service agencies. 

12 (b) COORDINATION WITH MEDIA OUTLETS AND LAW

13 ENFORCEMENT.—The Commission shall work with media 

14 outlets and law enforcement to distribute the information 

15 included in the web portal of the Commission pursuant to 

16 subsection (a) to senior citizens and their families and care17 givers. 

18 TITLE IV—PREVENTING SCAMS 

19 TARGETING INDIAN TRIBES 

20 SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. 

21 This title may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Indian 

22 Tribes from Scams Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 402. FTC REPORT ON UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACTS OR 

2 PRACTICES TARGETING INDIAN TRIBES. 

3 (a) FTC REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

4 date of the enactment of this Act, and after consultation 

5 with Indian Tribes, the Commission shall make publicly 

6 available on the website of the Commission and submit to 

7 the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 

8 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

9 and Transportation of the Senate a report on unfair or de10 ceptive acts or practices targeted at Indian Tribes or mem11 bers of Indian Tribes, including— 

12 (1) a description of the types of unfair or decep13 tive acts or practices identified by the Commission as 

14 being targeted at Indian Tribes or members of Indian 

15 Tribes; 

16 (2) a description of the consumer education ac17 tivities of the Commission with respect to such acts or 

18 practices; 

19 (3) a description of the efforts of the Commission 

20 to collaborate with Indian Tribes to prevent such acts 

21 or practices or to pursue persons using such acts or 

22 practices; 

23 (4) a summary of the enforcement actions taken 

24 by the Commission related to such acts or practices; 

25 and 


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1 (5) any recommendations for legislation to pre2 vent such acts or practices. 

3 (b) INCREASING AWARENESS OF UNFAIR OR DECEP4 TIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES TARGETING INDIAN TRIBES.— 

5 Not later than 6 months after the date of the submission 

6 of the report required by subsection (a), the Commission 

7 shall update the website of the Commission to include infor8 mation for consumers and businesses on identifying and 

9 avoiding unfair or deceptive acts or practices targeted at 

10 Indian Tribes or members of Indian Tribes. 

11 TITLE V—ENHANCING CON12 SUMER PROTECTION EN13 FORCEMENT 

14 SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 

15 This title may be cited as the ‘‘FTC Collaboration Act 

16 of 2020’’. 

17 SEC. 502. UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES COOPERA18 TION STUDY. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.— 

20 (1) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year 

21 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal 

22 Trade Commission shall conduct a study on facili23 tating and refining existing efforts with State Attor24 neys General to prevent, publicize, and penalize 


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1 frauds and scams being perpetrated on individuals in 

2 the United States. 

3 (2) REQUIREMENTS OF STUDY.—In conducting 

4 the study, the Commission shall examine the fol5 lowing: 

6 (A) The roles and responsibilities of the 

7 Commission and State Attorneys General that 

8 best advance collaboration and consumer protec9 tion. 

10 (B) The policies, procedures, and mecha11 nisms that facilitate cooperation and commu12 nications across the Commission. 

13 (C) How resources should be dedicated to 

14 best advance such collaboration and consumer 

15 protection. 

16 (D) The accountability mechanisms that 

17 should be implemented to promote collaboration 

18 and consumer protection. 

19 (3) CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT.—In 

20 producing the study required in paragraph (1), the 

21 Commission shall— 

22 (A) consult with— 

23 (i) the National Association of State 

24 Attorneys General; 


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1 (ii) public interest organizations dedi2 cated to consumer protection; 

3 (iii) relevant private sector entities; 

4 and 

5 (iv) any other Federal or State agency 

6 that the Federal Trade Commission con7 siders necessary; and 

8 (B) provide opportunity for public comment 

9 and advice relevant to the production of the 

10 study. 

11 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 months 

12 after the completion of the study required pursuant to sub13 section (a), the Commission shall submit to the Committee 

14 on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 

15 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor16 tation of the Senate, and make publicly available on the 

17 website of the Commission, a report that contains the fol18 lowing: 

19 (1) The results of the study. 

20 (2) Recommended best practices to enhance col21 laboration efforts between the Commission and State 

22 Attorneys General with respect to preventing, publi23 cizing, and penalizing fraud and scams. 

24 (3) Quantifiable metrics by which enhanced col25 laboration can be measured. 


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1 (4) Legislative recommendations, if any, to en2 hance collaboration efforts between the Commission 

3 and State Attorneys General to prevent, publicize, 

4 and penalize fraud and scams. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to establish 

an office within the Federal Trade Commission and an 

outside advisory group to prevent fraud targeting seniors 

and to direct the Commission to study and submit a report to Congress on scams targeting seniors and Indian 

tribes, and for other purposes.’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 488 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 2610 

[Report No. 116–590] 

A BILL 

To establish a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory 

venting scams that affect seniors. cational materials useful in identifying and preCouncil to collect and disseminate model eduNOVEMBER 16, 2020 

Reported with amendments; committed to the Committee 

dered to be printed of the Whole House on the State of the Union and orVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:11 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H2610.RH H2610

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