In a move to shore up defenses against financial predators, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) has announced a series of steps to battle the increase of scams targeting older Arizonans. With over 100,000 retirees falling victim to scams, suffering losses upward of $3.4 billion according to the FBI’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report, Gallego’s initiative comes during Older Americans Month and on the heels of National Scam Survivor Day. The report puts a spotlight on Arizona's troubling rank of fourth for the number of reports amounting to nearly $128 million in losses.
"Arizona’s seniors worked hard all their lives to earn their social security and retirement. They don’t deserve to have that taken away by social media con artists," Rep. Gallego declared. He is stepping up to challenge not only the scammers but also the very platforms they exploit. Citing an alarming trend noted by the FTC, where social media scams have caused over $2.7 billion in reported losses since 2021, Gallego’s actions are squarely aimed at the heart of the issue. His fighting words come as a response to a growing problem that social media has become regarding senior citizens, as reported by Gallego's press release.
Gallego's multi-pronged approach started with him becoming a key supporter of the bipartisan Empowering States to Protect Seniors Against Bad Actors Act. This act aims to set up a grant program under the SEC to empower states in combating scams. He has also been proactive in reaching out to the CEOs of big tech companies, Meta and X, urging them to take robust action in preventing fraudulent activities on their turf. Consolidating his efforts, Gallego backed a resolution for codifying May 9th as National Scam Survivor Day and emphasized the vital role of law enforcement at various levels in tackling scams.
Building upon a legislative history of advocating for senior protections, earlier this year, Rep. Gallego backed the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2023 to furnish the finance industry with the necessary tools to combat suspected financial abuse against seniors. Additionally, he has pressed the FCC on fraudulent robocalls and texts and called upon the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice to take action on gift card fraud, demonstrating a consistent commitment to the safeguarding of seniors' financial security as chronicled on his official congressional page.
With Attorney General Kris Mayes backing these measures, acknowledging the insidious rise of elder fraud and abuse, the joint force of state and federal powers are showing a united front against the scourge of scams that plague the older population. "Scammers are increasingly exploiting senior citizens in Arizona and across the country," Mayes said, aligning with Congressman Gallego's sentiment and calling for collective accountability from social media companies and highlighting the shared duty to protect the vulnerable demographic in our society.
