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S. 1490 (114th): Seniors Fraud Prevention Act of 2015


The text of the bill below is as of Nov 15, 2016 (Reported by Senate Committee). The bill was not enacted into law.


II

Calendar No. 663

114th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1490

[Report No. 114–370]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 3, 2015

(for herself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Ayotte, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Schatz, and Mrs. McCaskill) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

November 15, 2016

Reported by , without amendment

A BILL

To establish an advisory office within the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission to prevent fraud targeting seniors, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Seniors Fraud Prevention Act of 2015.

2.

Office for the Prevention of Fraud Targeting Seniors

(a)

Establishment of advisory office

The Federal Trade Commission shall establish an office within the Bureau of Consumer Protection for the purpose of advising the Commission on the prevention of fraud targeting seniors and to assist the Commission with the following:

(1)

Oversight

The advisory office shall monitor the market for mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, and recorded message telephone call (hereinafter referred to as robocall) fraud targeting seniors and shall coordinate with other relevant agencies regarding the requirements of this section.

(2)

Consumer education

The Commission through the advisory office shall, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Postmaster General, the Chief Postal Inspector for the United States Postal Inspection Service, and other relevant agencies—

(A)

disseminate to seniors and families and caregivers of seniors general information on mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, and robocall fraud targeting seniors, including descriptions of the most common fraud schemes;

(B)

disseminate to seniors and families and caregivers of seniors information on reporting complaints of fraud targeting seniors either to the national toll-free telephone number established by the Commission for reporting such complaints, or to the Consumer Sentinel Network, operated by the Commission, where such complaints will become immediately available to appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the attorneys general of the States;

(C)

in response to a specific request about a particular entity or individual, provide publically available information of enforcement action taken by the Commission for mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, and robocall fraud against such entity; and

(D)

maintain a website to serve as a resource for information for seniors and families and caregivers of seniors regarding mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, robocall, and other identified fraud targeting seniors.

(3)

Complaints

The Commission through the advisory office shall, in consultation with the Attorney General, establish procedures to—

(A)

log and acknowledge the receipt of complaints by individuals who believe they have been a victim of mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, and robocall fraud in the Consumer Sentinel Network, and shall make those complaints immediately available to Federal, State, and local law enforcement authorities; and

(B)

provide to individuals described in subparagraph (A), and to any other persons, specific and general information on mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, and robocall fraud, including descriptions of the most common schemes using such methods of communication.

(b)

Commencement

The Commission shall commence carrying out the requirements of this section not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.

November 15, 2016

Reported without amendment