It’s a Holiday Miracle: Bipartisan Bills in Both Houses of Congress to Protect Older Adults
Scams targeting Americans aged 60 and up reported to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) in 2024 reached $2.4 billion, well in excess of the previous year’s reports of $1.9 billion, according to the annual study published by the FTC on Dec. 1, 2025. And older Americans are less likely to report fraud -- Keith B. Anderson, former economist in the FTC, noted that as few as 3% of victims actually report fraud to a government entity. Therefore, the FTC estimates $61.5 billion as a more realistic measure of the value stolen from senior adults. FBI data shows the average amount lost by older adults in 2024 was over $83,000. Seniors are uniquely vulnerable to scams due to factors including isolation, loneliness, and reduction in processing speed. Those with cognitive impairment, even if mild, are even more at risk.
Two bills, the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act and the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act have been introduced with the goal of coordinating the federal response to scams and improving the cooperation among the state and federal authorities. The latter bill works as an organizational restructuring “to streamline cooperation among the many federal agencies responsible for addressing different forms of fraud.”
The Senate legislation would establish a federal working group led by the FBI to coordinate the efforts of more than a dozen federal agencies in combating scams. The house bill would authorize the creation of Elder Justice Task Forces to help local, state, and federal agencies work together to investigate and prosecute illegal scammers. The legislation encourages better use of technology, expanded data collection, and stronger partnerships with banks, tech companies, and law enforcement to help prevent scams and support victims.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is just one of the advocacy groups supporting the bills. Scams are one of many forms of elder exploitation. Elder lawyers work to prevent and halt financial exploitation of older adults. We can also help recover lost funds in some instances. You can view my video podcast to learn more about how to protect against elder exploitation here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBVaFlUjZw4.
If you or a loved one has fallen victim to a scam, you are not alone. While seniors may feel embarrassment, reporting the scam may help protect others from falling victim to the same scam. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at ssiegel@norris-law.com or call me at 908-252-4253.
About the Author- Peace of Mind
Shana Siegel focuses her practice on elder law, representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in matters such as life care planning, public benefits, estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey, she has extensive experience in probate, estate administration, special needs trusts, guardianship, and health care decision-making. Shana has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years and served as principal at WanderPolo & Siegel for 5 of her 10 years there. A past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), she was invited to NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners in 2015.