Protecting Seniors from Fraud

Fraudsters are constantly targeting seniors to cheat them out of their hard-earned retirement. These sophisticated scammers pose as federal agencies, banks, and even loved ones, while artificial intelligence is making impersonation easier than ever.

In 2024 alone, adults aged 60 and older lost $2.4 billion to fraud.

Seniors need resources to recognize and quickly report suspected fraud. Currently, the federal government operates an elder fraud reporting line that is only available during business hours, and finding relevant information about fraud enforcement from different federal agencies can be very difficult.

That’s why I teamed up with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to introduce the bipartisan One Front Door for Elder Fraud Act. Our bill will establish a 24/7 hotline and website to serve as a one-stop shop for reporting and addressing elder fraud. Both these platforms will enable a senior or loved one to file a complaint about any fraud or scam, submit a message that’s allegedly from the federal government to verify whether it is legitimate, and request a connection with the appropriate federal, state, and local authorities.

The elder fraud website would also conveniently provide resources for combating the most common types of elder fraud and scams — including resources at relevant federal agencies.

By establishing a 24/7, one-stop shop for addressing elder fraud, this bipartisan bill will protect vulnerable seniors and empower law enforcement to crack down on criminals.