Klobuchar Bill to Crack Down on Fraud Targeted at Seniors Passes Commerce Committee, Paving the Way for a Vote in the Full Senate

Press Release

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today announced that her bill to crack down on fraud targeted at seniors passed the Senate Commerce Committee, paving the way for a vote in the full Senate. Schemes targeting seniors include fraudulent investment plans, fraudulent prizes and sweepstakes, internet fraud, charity scams, predatory home lenders, telemarketing and mail fraud, accessing assets through undue influence, using fraudulent legal documents, Ponzi schemes, and other fraudulent acts. The bipartisan Seniors Fraud Prevention Act would help fight scams designed to strip seniors of their assets by helping educate seniors about fraud schemes and improving monitoring and response to fraud complaints. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is the original cosponsor of the bill, which is also cosponsored by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Brian Schatz (D-HI).

"Too often seniors can have their entire life savings snatched up in scams specifically designed to target their assets. We must do more to protect seniors' hard-earned life savings from fraud schemes and this important bipartisan bill takes steps forward to do just that," said Klobuchar. "Today's action brings us one step closer to providing seniors and their families the tools they need to avoid scams before they happen."

The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act has been endorsed by the AARP and the Elder Justice Coalition. The bill would help protect seniors from fraud schemes by strengthening the complaint system to ensure complaints of fraud are handled quickly by the appropriate law enforcement agencies. The bill would also require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency responsible for handling consumer complaints, to coordinate with other agencies to monitor the market for fraud schemes targeting seniors. In addition, the bill would require the FTC to distribute information materials to seniors, their families, and their caregivers that explains the process for contacting law enforcement authorities in the event that a senior is targeted in a fraud scheme.

Throughout her time in the Senate, Klobuchar has been fighting to ensure that all Americans have safety, dignity, and good health in their senior years. In April, members of Klobuchar's staff held a statewide "Serving Our Seniors" tour to highlight services available to Minnesota seniors and to gather feedback from community members who provide critical support to aging Minnesotans. Staff also highlighted Klobuchar's leadership to curb the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, improve and strengthen Medicare, and protect American consumers by leading major bipartisan legislation, such as the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act, the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act, and Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act. In March of 2015, Klobuchar reintroduced the Americans Giving Care to Elders (AGE) Act to help reduce the financial burden on families by establishing a federal tax credit to assist with the costs of caring for an aging family member.

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