Washington, DC, September 30, 2004--
A resolution which declares October as “Protecting Older
Americans from Fraud Month” is set to pass the U.S. Senate and
it’s sponsor, U.S. Senator Larry, is taking to the airwaves as
he continues his efforts to stamp out fraud against seniors.
According to U.S. Postal Service officials and other federal
agencies, older Americans are the fastest growing age group to
be victimized by identity fraud and internet schemes.
To help protect seniors, on Monday morning Sen. Craig will join
with Lee Heath, Chief Postal Inspector of the United States, as
part of a nationwide satellite tour. Craig and Heath will remain
in Washington, DC, but will be interviewed by television
stations from California to New York as they discuss a new DVD
titled "Dialing for Dollars" which features an investment fraud
scheme that targets older Americans.
That free DVD is available free to anyone just by calling
1-877-987-3728 or by ordering on-line at
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors.
“Seniors need to be aware that the nice sounding person on the
end of the phone line can too often be a vicious predator – a
nice sounding voice who will simply rob you blind,” Craig said.
“Seniors need to be extremely careful. One step they or anyone
else can take immediately is to place their telephone numbers on
the
National Do Not Call
registry at 1-888-382-1222.”
Sen. Craig’s resolution (S. Res. 424) which designates October
as “Protecting Older Americans From Fraud Month” notes that
there has recently dramatic increases in fraud against seniors,
including:
* An 80 percent increase in 2003 of reports of Internet fraud
targeting older Americans
* The amount of money lost by older Americans to Internet fraud
increased from $2,690,618 in 2002 to $12,818,313 in 2003, a 375
percent increase in money lost;
* A 200 percent increase in 2002 of identity theft targeting
older Americans |
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