Gillibrand calling for stronger safeguards to protect senior citizens from getting scammed

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is calling on stiffer safeguards to protect senior citizens from being scammed by fraudsters, especially during the holidays.

Last-year, Americans lost over a staggering $16-billion to scams, according to Gillibrand’s office. Additionally, nearly $5-billion of that accounted for senior citizens who fell victim to the ever evolving tricks scammers keep inventing.

“I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to help make sure seniors don’t get scrooged this holiday season,” Gillibrand said during a virtual press conference last-week.

"It’s clear that we need a coordinated national strategy to tackle the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting our seniors, and this legislation would bring that to fruition. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this vital bill across the finish line.”

According to some of the latest analyzed data and statistics, more than four in ten Americans say they have lost money to scams or had their sensitive information obtained fraudulently.

Criminals increasingly utilize advanced tools like generative AI and voice deepfakes to deceive victims, disproportionately targeting older adults.

The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act was introduced into the Senate alongside Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ashley Moody (R-FL).

It was introduced into the House of Representatives by Representative Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) and Representative Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02).

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand image.