Protecting Seniors from Scams Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 7685 To require the Federal Trade Commission in consultation with the Internal Revenue Service to submit a report to Congress on scams targeting seniors, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 20, 2020 Mr. HARDER of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Com- mittee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Federal Trade Commission in consultation with the Internal Revenue Service to submit a report to Congress on scams targeting seniors, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Seniors 4 from Scams Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:25 Aug 06, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7685.IH H7685 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 7685 IH SEC. 2. FTC REPORT ON SCAMS TARGETING SENIORS DUR- 1 ING EMERGENCIES. 2 Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 3 of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission (referred to 4 in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’) shall, in consultation 5 with the Internal Revenue Service (referred to in this Act 6 as the ‘‘IRS’’), submit a report to Congress including— 7 (1) a description of the number and types of 8 scams identified by the Commission as being tar- 9 geted at senior citizens, including scams related to 10 economic stimulus and relief payments related to 11 COVID–19; and 12 (2) policy recommendations to prevent such 13 scams, especially as such scams relate to future na- 14 tional emergencies. 15 SEC. 3. INCREASING AWARENESS OF SCAMS TARGETING 16 SENIORS. 17 (a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the 18 date of enactment of this Act, the Commission and the 19 IRS shall each update their websites to include the latest 20 information, searchable by region and type of scam, on 21 scams targeting seniors, including contacts for relevant 22 law enforcement and adult protective service agencies. 23 (b) COORDINATION WITH MEDIA OUTLETS AND LAW 24 ENFORCEMENT.—The Commission shall work with media 25 outlets and law enforcement agencies to distribute the in- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:25 Aug 06, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7685.IH H7685 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 7685 IH formation included in the website of the Commission pur- 1 suant to subsection (a) to senior citizens and their families 2 and caregivers. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:25 Aug 06, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H7685.IH H7685 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS