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Dear Neighbor,
I’d like to take a moment to discuss the growing mass scam attempts targeting unsuspecting American seniors -- a critical issue that worsens in size and scale every July and August. While families across our community enjoy their summer vacations, criminals are hard at work swindling unsuspecting seniors out of their money or deceiving them into divulging their personally identifiable information.
The use of robocalls is a particularly troubling aspect of these scams. Robocalls are automated phone calls that use autodial technology to deliver pre-recorded messages to mass quantities of phone numbers. Certain robocalls are entirely legal and legitimate – such as calls you may receive from your pharmacy reminding you to refill a prescription. However, too many are illegal scam calls made by fraudsters trying to get your financial information by posing as insurance companies, banks, or even the IRS.
4.1 billion robocalls were placed nationwide in June of this year, including 32.7 million here in Northern Virginia. These calls, while all too frequent and bothersome, can also be truly harmful. An estimated 25 million Americans fell victim to phone scams last year, unknowingly handing over more than $9 billion to criminal scammers. Unfortunately, according to the Government Accountability Office, nearly a third of this money was stolen from seniors.
I’m committed to protecting American seniors from acts of fraud. I am a cosponsor of the Seniors Fraud Prevention Act, a bill that directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish an office dedicated to preventing seniors fraud. The office would be responsible for monitoring the market for mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, and robocall scams, and for keeping seniors and their families and caregivers informed about the most common fraud schemes and ways to report such fraud to the proper authorities. I am also proud to cosponsor the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, which broadens the definition of a robocall, and clarifies the federal prohibitions on making such calls.
Additionally, I support legislation like the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, which makes it easier to prosecute telemarketing and email marketing fraud against seniors, and the HOME Act, which allows financial institutions to offer training to employees regarding suspected financial exploitation of seniors.
My office is here to assist anyone who may be the victim of fraud regarding federal agencies. For example, we have worked with the IRS to recover refunds for individuals who had tax returns filed fraudulently under their Social Security numbers. If you believe you, or a loved one, are the victim of a scam, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (703) 256-3071.
Sincerely,
Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress
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Washington, DC Office
2238 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-1492
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Annandale Office
4115 Annandale Road, Ste. 103
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: (703) 256-3071
Fax: (703) 354-1284
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Prince William Office
2241-D Tacketts Mill Drive
Woodbridge, VA 22192
Phone: (571) 408-4407
Fax: (571) 408-4708
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