Press Releases
House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Protect Seniors from Scams
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Seniors Fraud Prevention Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate.
The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act was incorporated as Title II of Stop Senior Scams Act (H.R. 2610). Congressman Ted Deutch: "Scams targeting seniors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and deceptive. To protect our seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes and could lose a life's worth of savings, we need a stronger response in tracking, targeting, and warning against new scams. I hope the Senate will move quickly on this bill that could help seniors protect their assets." Congressman Vern Buchanan: “Scams targeting the elderly are growing at a disturbing rate and need to be addressed by Congress. I’m pleased the House has passed our bill and hope it will be signed into law before the end of the year. Passing this bill would be a big step forward to protecting seniors and combating fraud.” Congressman Peter Welch: “Every day, in Vermont and across this country, vulnerable seniors are being ripped off by scam artists. It’s not uncommon for their victims to lose their life’s savings. I am pleased that the House has passed this important bill and hope that it will soon be signed into law so that the FTC has the resources it needs to alert seniors of fraudulent schemes and help stop these criminals in their tracks.” Senator Klobuchar: “We must ensure all Americans have safety and dignity in their senior years, especially as we confront the coronavirus pandemic. New schemes designed to defraud seniors appear almost daily. These aren’t simply a nuisance—these scams can wipe out an entire life savings. Passing this bipartisan legislation is a critical step to combat fraud targeting seniors.” Senator Collins: “As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, protecting seniors from fraud and abuse is one of my top priorities. The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act will enhance fraud monitoring, increase consumer education, and strengthen the complaint tracking system. Raising awareness—particularly among older Americans who are more likely to be targeted—is key to protecting seniors’ hard-earned savings.” |