Title: A 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.
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Expresses support for the designation of May 15, 2018, as National Senior Fraud Awareness Day.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 506 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






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;
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, 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of May 15, 2018, 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 resolving clause 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 preventing scams targeting seniors and 
        educating seniors about those scams;
            (4) encourages implementation of policies to prevent these 
        scams and to improve measures to protect seniors from scams 
        targeting seniors; and
            (5) honors the commitment and dedication of the individuals 
        and organizations who work tirelessly to fight against scams 
        targeting seniors.
                                 <all>