Bill Text: CA ACR81 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Senior Fraud Awareness Day.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-09-10 - In Senate. To Com. on RLS. [ACR81 Detail]
Download: California-2013-ACR81-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 81 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mitchell
AUGUST 28, 2013
Relative to Senior Fraud Awareness Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 81, as amended, Mitchell. Senior Fraud Awareness Day.
This measure would proclaim November 13, 2013, as Senior Fraud
Awareness Day.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, As the population ages and more Americans become senior
citizens with life savings, they become greater targets for fraud and
deception. The ease of access for criminals to contact seniors
through the Internet and telephone increases as more creative schemes
emerge; and
WHEREAS, Senior fraud is a growing concern as millions have fallen
victim to scams, including Medicare scams, sweepstakes and lottery
scams, investment and work at home scams, bereavement scams, identity
theft, charity scams, granny scams, and home repair scams. Seniors
citizens average one scam-type letter and two telemarketing phone
calls per week; and
WHEREAS, Senior fraud is underreported due to older adults'
embarrassment and lack of information about where to report fraud;
and
WHEREAS, There are about 5 million cases of financial exploitation
of the elderly in the United States each year. The financial loss by
victims is more than $42.9 $2.9
billion dollars annually for reported cases; and
WHEREAS, Caregivers, scam artists, and unscrupulous salespersons
are the primary instigators of senior fraud. The tactics used are
intimidation, fear, friendliness, authority, and control to get the
victim to send money or share private financial information; and
WHEREAS, As senior citizens own more than half of all the
financial assets in America, they are the primary targets for
fraudulent practices. It is estimated by the United States House of
Representatives Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care that even
though seniors only represent 12 percent of the population, they
represent 30 percent of the scam victims; and
WHEREAS, According to the Department of Corporations, it is
estimated that 70 percent of Californians over 50 years of age have
been solicited by someone with the intent to defraud them; and
WHEREAS, The Los Angeles City Council commended Adrienne Omansky's
Stop Senior Scams Acting Program, in which over 35 students from the
Los Angeles Unified School District's Programs for Older Adults have
performed at numerous venues their 30-minute skit informing older
adults about current scams that target the older adult population,
and the city council declared May 15, 2013, as "Senior Fraud
Awareness Day" in Los Angeles; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims November
13, 2013, as Senior Fraud Awareness Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
