Title: A 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.
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of May 15, 2020, as National Senior Fraud Awareness Day and encourages the development of policies that help prevent scams targeting older adults.

[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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