U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R- KS) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in expressing concerns about coronavirus-related scams targeting America’s senior citizens, and requested additional protections and information from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about what it is doing to ensure that seniors are protected from attempted financial exploitation.
“At this time of heightened public fears, reports have highlighted that scams pertaining to the coronavirus are increasing, and that seniors — arguably the most vulnerable population to both the coronavirus and bad actors — have been targeted with calls telling them that the COVID-19 vaccination is ready when no such treatment currently exists,” wrote Sen. Moran and 33 other members in a March 26 letter sent to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons.
Among the lawmakers who joined Sen. Moran in signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Martha McSally (R-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Todd Young (R-IN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
The members noted that reports have outlined how scammers have gone to the homes of elderly people to administer fake tests while also charging them and obtaining their Social Security numbers.
“Although the FTC has sent warning letters to seven sellers of fraudulent COVID-19 treatments, we are concerned that further action is needed to protect the financial wellbeing of seniors — who lose an estimated $3 billion annually from financial scams,” according to their letter.
The FTC has added information to its website to inform consumers about COVID-19 scams, the lawmakers acknowledged, but they requested that additional measures be taken to educate seniors and provide consumers with information about how to seek recourse if they are targeted.
They also requested that Simons answer several questions, including about what efforts the FTC is currently taking to educate seniors about COVID-19-related fraud and how to protect themselves.