Tag Archives for Older Americans Month

Fraud Schemes Targeting Older Adults: Senate Aging Committee Sounds Alarm

Published in RINewsToday on July 21, 2025

“Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you are one of our lucky winners,” read the letter.

The official-looking correspondence—purportedly from the desk of the Vice President, International Promotions/Prize Award Department of Publishers Clearing House (PCH)—continued:

“On behalf of the members and staff of PCH, the Association of North America Lottery, and Provincial Sweepstakes, we sincerely congratulate you on your grand prize winnings of $750,000… Please contact your claims agent to arrange method of payment.”

Enclosed was a check, appearing legitimate, allegedly issued by Northern Fairfield Insurance (NFI) of Danbury, Connecticut, from a Webster Bank account, in the amount of $9,700.65.

According to the letter, the check was intended to help cover taxes, handling, and processing fees related to the prize.

Northern Fairfield Insurance, established in 1998, is a small firm with just three employees, including its owner, Jim Ostrove. Nearly two weeks ago, Ostrove began receiving calls—mine among them—asking whether the PCH letter and enclosed check were legitimate.

“The volume has tapered off by the day,” he admits, noting that “we’re no longer receiving any calls.”

A quick call to NFI confirmed my suspicions: the letter, marked “Confidential,” was a scam. In conversation with Ostrove, he said, “I felt violated and angry.”

Concerned, Ostrove contacted Webster Bank—the financial institution listed on the counterfeit check—to confirm that no account had been set up in his company’s name. The bank quickly verified this, noting that the check’s routing number was invalid and had no connection to a legitimate account. “Looking closely at the PCH check, I also realized that the name of my insurance company was misspelled,” Ostrove added.

Ostrove says the bank’s fraud unit was very helpful and confirmed the check was fake. His concerns about any potential financial fallout for his business were eased, he says.

Although Ostrove filed a police report, he had no real expectation that the scammers would be caught. “I just wanted the report on file in case someone came forward about the reward and tried to hold me financially responsible,” he said.

“My report made it very clear that I was a victim of fraud,” he emphasized.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims reported nearly $350 million in losses to prize, sweepstakes, and lottery-related scams in 2024.

Like me, the Better Business Bureau estimates that tens of thousands of individuals will receive similar scam mailings in 2025—complete with fake prize notifications, counterfeit checks, and fraudulent requests for payment or personal information. The actual number of victims may be much higher, as many incidents go unreported.

Senate Aging Committee Puts a Spotlight on Scams and Financial Exploitation

On Feb. 12, 2016, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging announced the publication of its first full-year “Fraud Book,” Protecting Older Americans Against Fraud, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2015. These annual reports aim to raise awareness about the growing number of fraud schemes targeting older Americans and provide specific recommendations to combat them.

The latest, published just recently, is a 40-page multi-language annual report, Age of Fraud: Scams Facing Our Nation’s Seniors (Report No. 119-35 of the 119th Congress), and was released on July 10, 2025. It highlights the many forms of fraud—including grandparent scams, tech support fraud, financial service scams, travel and timeshare fraud, romance scams, and government impersonation schemes.

“These schemes often target emotional vulnerabilities, particularly among seniors facing loneliness, isolation, or depression,” note Chairman Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) in a statement announcing the newly released report.

The 2025 bipartisan report outlines the growing financial threats facing aging Americans and ways for seniors to identify red flags that provide warnings of scams, suggests practical tips on how to protect themselves, and how to report scams. This year’s edition underscores the alarming rise in sophisticated schemes, particularly those utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). In 2024 alone, fraud and scams cost seniors over $4.8 billion, with those aged 50–59 losing an additional $2.5 billion.

“Across our nation, older Americans are being targeted every day by increasingly sophisticated scams that rob them not only of their hard-earned savings but also of their security and peace of mind. These attacks are personal, and they are unacceptable,” says Scott, stressing that fighting fraud against older Americans will remain a top priority for the Committee.

“Through critical initiatives like National Slam the Scam Day and our toll-free Fraud Hotline, we are expanding access to education, prevention tools, and direct support to empower families to recognize fraud and respond quickly,” he says.

“This report shines a direct light on the scale and severity of the threat we’re facing, and we must be united in our determination to stay vigilant, informed, and proactive in defending our seniors,” adds Scott.

Gillibrand adds, “We must do everything we can to prevent and fight back against these scams, and that starts with monitoring fraud whenever and wherever it occurs. As Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, I’m committed to continuing the fight against fraud, and I hope this Fraud Book is a valuable resource for our aging communities.”

The report serves as a significant wake-up call to Congress. Fraud continues to skyrocket, notes the Committee. Citing FBI data, 2024 was a record year for losses reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, totaling a staggering $16.6 billion. There were 859,532 complaints that year—and over 4.2 million complaints over the past five years.

The report also emphasizes that fraud targeting older adults is growing in both complexity and financial impact, making enhanced awareness, education, and robust support systems more critical than ever.

 According to the FBI, from 2023 to 2024:

  • Overall losses increased 33%, mostly due to fraud.
  • Average loss for those age 60 and older rose to $83,000.
  • Reports for this age group increased by 43%.
  • Cryptocurrency-related losses rose by 66%.
  • Complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks increased by 99%.

To safeguard aging Americans from fraud, scams, and financial exploitation, the Senate Aging Committee has led two bipartisan efforts: one resolution designating March 6, 2025, as National Slam the Scam Day to raise awareness and educate the public about fraud prevention, and another recognizing May 2025 as Older Americans Month. Both efforts aim to inform and protect older adults while reinforcing the committee’s commitment to combating fraud through public education, legislative action, and advocacy for stronger safeguards—ensuring seniors can enjoy their golden years with greater security and peace of mind.

From the Ocean State

According to the 2025 Fraud Report, the Federal Trade Commission reported 11,776 complaints were filed in Rhode Island in 2024.

“Our team tracks patterns of scams reported to us throughout the year,” says Timothy M. Rondeau, Communications Director for the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General. “This year, we’ve continued to see a wide range of fraudulent actors deceiving Rhode Islanders through romance scams, imposter scams, and scams involving cryptocurrency.”

According to Rondeau, while new scams aren’t necessarily emerging, the tools and methods used are evolving. “AI tools are increasingly used in imposter and romance scams, where AI-generated voices and videos deceive and manipulate victims,” he explains. “While we can’t always confirm AI involvement in each case, we know the use of AI makes it much harder—especially for older adults—to distinguish between real and fraudulent interactions.”

For more information about common scams or to file a complaint, Rhode Islanders can visit: riag.ri.gov/scams

If you or someone you know has been a victim—or suspects they’ve been targeted—please call the Senate Aging Committee’s Fraud Hotline at 1-855-303-9470 (open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time). If you’d like a member of the committee’s team to return your inquiry, please include your phone number in the web form.

Go here to read the Senate Aging Committees 2025 Fraud Report,

The US Dept. of Justice released this information in recognition of Elder Abuse Awareness Day – The Justice Department Highlights Enforcement Efforts Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Fraud Schemes in Recognition of 2025 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day contains specific information on each type of fraud and what the US Government is doing to shut it down.

AARP offers  Tips on Protecting Yourself Against Fraud.

AARP also has a Fraud Watch Network.

New Legislative Commission to work on improving programs, services to seniors 

Published in RINewsToday on June 19, 2023

During May, designated as Older Americans Month, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved H 5224-SUB A, sponsored by House Deputy Majority Leader Lauren H. Carson (D-District 75, Newport), creating a legislative commission to study the services and programs for 240,000 older adults in Rhode Island – and to make recommendations for ways to improve and coordinate them. The number of seniors is expected to skyrocket to almost 265,000 by 2040, constituting an increase of nearly 75% since 2010.

On May 11, 2023, over three months since the resolution was dropped in the legislative hopper, it passed by a whopping bipartisan vote of 69 to 0 (with 6 members absent). There was no opposition to H 5224- SUB A from any organization. It seems that any House lawmaker or organization opposing this resolution would also oppose “motherhood and apple pie.”

With a number of House GOP concerns addressed in the state’s $14 billion budget, House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale directed his caucus to support passage. The House Republican Caucus also unanimously voted for H5224 – SUB A, and fully supported the mission of a legislative commission which is charged with collecting and analyzing the current state of affairs in regard to Rhode Island’s growing senior population.

Carson’s resolution calls for “a collaborative study of Rhode Island’s current services, and recommendations for potential initiatives that would help residents, agencies, providers, and the government to better assist the growing population of older adults in our state achieve well-being and maximum independence in ways that value, empower and engage them,” adding that such an effort is essential to the state’s future resilience and prosperity.

According to House Communications Director Larry Berman, 21 House legislative Commissions will be operational when Carson’s legislative commission becomes operational. The House Policy Office will staff the Commission.  The number of meetings (open to the public) has not yet been determined. The meeting agenda will be determined by its Chair, with input provided by the 16 Commission members, House lawmakers, members of the public, and aging advocates. 

Because H 5224 – SUB A only creates a House legislative commission, there is no need for a companion measure to be introduced in the Senate,” says Berman who notes that this Commission will begin in the Fall of 2023. It is charged to report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives no later than May 7, 2024. The Commission would then expire on August 7, 2024.

Providing a Road Map to Fix Systemic Policy Flaws

“This commission will provide valuable information to the House next year to provide a roadmap for providing service and programs for older Rhode Islanders, including funding options that will be strongly considered,” stated House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi  (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), after passage of the special legislative committee.

“We have had excellent results with other commissions that have studied housing and shoreline access that have led to legislation that the General Assembly has adopted.  Representative Carson is an extremely thoughtful and dedicated legislator who will work hard with commission members to develop great plans for the future,” says Shekarchi.

“Rhode Island should invest much more than we do in services that enable people to age in place and safely remain in their communities. Those services are far more cost-efficient overall, and encourage an active, more fulfilling lifestyle for people as they age. Considering that nearly a quarter of our population is over 60, and Baby Boomers will continue to swell those ranks, now is the time,” said Carson. “This commission will take a look at the services we have, how we could improve and better coordinate them and offer them to more individuals, where the gaps and needs are, and what we need to do to better enable our population, as we grow older, to safely remain in the community and lead full lives,” she says.

The 16-member commission, all appointed by the House Speaker, will include three members of the House of Representatives, two Rhode Island residents over the age of 65, three directors from the Rhode Island Senior Center Director’s Association, a community action program director from the Rhode Island Association of Community Action Agencies, a member of the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council, and a member of a Rhode Island organization representing adults with disabilities.

In addition, the directors of the Office of Healthy Aging, the Department of Health, AARP Rhode Island, Age-Friendly RI and the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI or their designees will participate.

H 5224 – SUB A instructs the commission to study key statistics about services for older adults in Rhode Island, examining strengths, vulnerabilities, and demographic and financial statistics; assess the current state, federal and local services currently available, as well as any duplication of services; recommend ways to coordinate services within agencies and focus on better service delivery, including housing options and various living arrangements, health status and health care resources; provide recommendations for the creation of a portal to coordinate aging services in employment, education, independent living, accessibility and advocacy, as well as local older adult centers and services; provide recommendations on mental health, transportation, food access, and health care; provide recommendations for the funding of services through state, federal and private grants and for more efficient distribution and use of these dollars; and explore more regionalization of services.

Towards the Creation of a Strategic State Plan on Aging

“The newly established legislative commission to study the services and programs for our rapidly growing older population can become the launching pad for the state to move forward to create a multi-sector Strategic State Plan on Aging to coordinate Rhode Island’s programs and services for older Rhode Islanders, says Maureen Maigret chair of the Aging in Community Subcommittee of Rhode Island’s Long-Term Care Coordinating Council who also serves as a policy consultant and board member of the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI.  She notes that 10 states have already developed this “master plan” and she hopes Rhode Island will also join their ranks. 

At the Senior Agenda Coalition  of RI’s August 2022 Gubernatorial Forum, she warned that the state’s aging and long-term services were fragmented, spread across a number of state agencies, charging that these agencies often lacked stable leadership and a coherent and overarching vision. Creating a Strategic Plan on Aging builds on work being done now by the Office of Healthy Aging and Subcommittees of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council, and would be a fix for this,” says Maigret. 

According to Maigret, at the August Forum Gov. Dan McKee stated he would issue an Executive Order for initiating a Master Plan on Aging, but that has not happened. Aging advocates are still waiting for this to happen.

“We look forward to joining with older-adult focused direct service, advocacy, non-profit, and state colleagues, and older adults themselves, to discuss how Rhode Islanders want to age and what we can build collectively to make that possible, says Director Maria Cimini, of the state’s Office of Health Aging (OHA).

“At the OHA we are thrilled there is interest and a commitment of time and resources to understand and plan for our state’s aging population, from where we sit, this opportunity will equip us to advocate for policies that empower and uplift our senior population, fostering dignity, purpose, and respect for all older adults,” adds Cimini.

Don’t Forget the Rhode Island’s Poor and Minority Elders

Susan Sweet, long-time advocate for poor and disadvantaged elders and the founder of The R. I. Minority Elder Task Force which provides limited financial assistance to low-income seniors in crisis reports: “We are seeing a large uptick in elders in crisis situations lacking basic needs such as food, utilities, housing, and personal items. Minority group members, immigrants, retirees as well as general population seniors are suffering more intensely since Covid, inflation, and lack of affordable housing matters have exacerbated the existing poverty among elders. In particular, homelessness among elders is at a peak we have not seen before.”

Sweet is hopeful that this new Legislative Commission will consider and react to the particularly difficult situations that confront the poor and minority elder populations. “I have seen many plans for services to elders that either ignore or do not implement agenda items addressing these populations and I hope that this commission will prioritize the severe privations that they face on a daily basis,” she says.

“With the lessons learned over the past 2 years and the devastating impact of COVID on our older adults, it’s critical that we reexamine our aging infrastructure, the needs for services, and the local service capabilities to this growing population,” Vin Marzullo, who served 31 years as a career federal civil rights & social justice administrator at the National Service agency.

“A serious, adult conversation is long overdue with the aging community, service providers and lawmakers about designing our plan for a more “Age-Friendly” RI, – which supports local senior centers as the local hub for the delivery of services,” suggests Marzullo.

The nursing home industry supports the mission of the newly enacted legislation committee. “Included in their charge is to, among other things, provide recommendations regarding available health care services.  Rhode Island’s nursing facilities play a vital role in health care for our older adults – providing care and services to over 18,500 seniors each year.  Many of these individuals are provided with short-term skilled nursing, physical, occupational and/or speech therapy following a hospitalization – enabling them to safely transition from the acute hospital level of care back home with continued services,” says John E. Gage, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Care Association.

“Of course, every Rhode Islander wants to remain independent, healthy and in their home for as long as possible.  When this is no longer viable, however, our state needs a strong spectrum of care, including home care, assisted living residences and skilled nursing facilities to support them as their care needs change.  Workforce is perhaps the most daunting challenge facing these health care providers, and this will need to be a focus for years to come,” notes Gage.

H 5224 A cosponsors are Representatives Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-District 37, Westerly), Thomas E. Noret (D-District 25, West Warwick), Susan R. Donovan (D-District 69, Bristol, Portsmouth), House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-District, East Providence), Karen Alzate (D-District 60, Central Falls, Pawtucket), Jason Knight (D-District 67, Barrington, Warren),  and Kathleen Fogarty (D-District 35, South Kingston.

A copy of H 5224 A may be accessed here: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText23/HouseText23/H5224A.pdf.

The House Floor vote (5/11/23) – 48 minute 48 second mark may be accessed here: https://ritv.devosvideo.com/show?video=d12583542bad&apg=84a99049.

The Health & Human Services Committee heard this resolution on March 15, 2023.  See the 1hour and 50-minute hearing by going to https://ritv.devosvideo.com/show?video=e3ea82fcb949&apg=6aae3d42) 

Herb Weiss, LRI -12, is a Pawtucket-based writer who has covered aging, health care and medical issues for over 43 years.  To purchase his books, Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly and a sequel, compiling weekly published articles, go to herbweiss.com.

America’s Seniors need House of Reps. to bring back Aging Committee

Published in RINewsToday on July 4, 2022

By Tom Spulak, Bob Weiner and Herb Weiss

With a backdrop of extensive media coverage of the ongoing Ukraine War, the Jan. 6th hearings, and covering the political postering of Republican and Democrats as the midterm elections approach (just 127 days from now), Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) along with 50 Democratic cosponsors calls on the House of Representatives to pass his legislation, H. Res. 583, that would reestablish the House Select Committee on Aging, (HSCoA) and for Speaker Pelosi and Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern to schedule the necessary consideration in the House Rules Committee to enable floor action.

The Rhode Island Congressman’s effort has caught the attention of a group, including former Congressional staffers, the Leadership Council on Aging Organizations and the Strengthen Social Security Coalition (both representing over 100 million seniors age 50 and over), Execs of national aging groups, the Florida-based Claude Pepper Foundation, and a Rhode Island writer, who see the need to bring the investigative Special Committee back to put the spotlight on a myriad of aging issues that Congress must address.

Every day, 12,000 Americans turn 60. By 2030, nearly 75 million people in the U.S.—or 20 percent of the country—will be age 65 or older. “As America grows older, the need for support and services provided under programs like Social Security, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act also increases,” and the need for re-establishing the House Selection Committee on Aging (HSCoA) becomes even more important.

The last two years have proven particularly difficult for older adults in our country as the coronavirus had a disparate impact on the lives of older Americans, particularly those residing in the 28,900 nation’s assisted living facilities and over 15,000 nursing homes.

Historically, the HSCoA, operational from1975 to 1993, served as a unique venue that allowed open, bipartisan debate from various ideological and philosophical perspectives to promote consensus that, in turn, helped facilitate the critical work of the standing committees. Addressing the needs of older Americans in a post-pandemic world will require this type of investigative, legislative oversight, work which can be advanced and promoted by reestablishing the HSCoA.

As Americans are aging, we also face a variety of intergenerational concerns that merit the investigation by the HSCoA, such as growing demands on family caregivers and a burgeoning retirement security crisis.

A restored HSCoA would have an opportunity to more fully explore a range of aging issues and innovations that cross Authorizing Committees of jurisdiction, while holding field hearings, convening remote hearings, engaging communities, and promoting understanding and dialogue. Having both would bring value to Congressional deliberations.

Today, the Senate Permanent Special Committee on Aging is working on everything from scams against seniors to increasing Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), to calling out questionable billing practices by private Medicare Advantage insurers. Seniors have been better off over the last 30 years with a Senate Aging Committee in existence — and the Senate investigative committee would benefit from a reestablished HSCoA, whose sole mission would be to look out for older Americans.

Older voters vote both Democratic and Republican. Although the Democrats created an array of federal programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the Affordable Care Act, these doesn’t guarantee they vote for this party. Quite candidly, it’s close. In 2020, while Joe Biden won the popular vote by 7 million, Donald Trump won the senior vote 52% to 47%. It’s not a matter of party. Seniors’ quality of life is not political. Passage of H. Res. 583 would send a very clear message out to America’s older voters that Congress can successfully govern and create legislation to enhance the quality of life in their later years.

Over 30 years ago, Congressman Claude Pepper died. He was a great visible national advocate for America’s seniors. In his 80s, he chaired the HSCoA and later the House Rules Committee. As Chair of HSCoA, he passed landmark aging legislation, working closely with the House authorizing committees with jurisdiction over aging programs and services. His efforts put an end to mandatory retirement. Alzheimer’s became a household word because of the hearing of his investigative committee. Legislation was passed to enhance the quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes, even creating the National Institute’s for Health.

As newspapers in communities across the nation curtail or jettison their investigative teams, the initial HSCoA has a proven track record and reputation of investigating aging issues, and this is a sound reason as to why the investigative committee should again be reactivated.

Reestablishing the HSCoA would recognize Congressman Pepper, the nation’s most visible and effective spokesperson for seniors, and more importantly to seniors a seat at the “legislative table” as Congress deliberates and debate aging policy issues.

What a symbolic opportunity to have passed H. Res. 583 in May during Older Americans Month. Sadly, this did not happen. But Speaker Pelosi has an opportunity to use her leadership position to endorse the resolution to bring back the HSCoA before the midterm elections. And Congressman Cicilline must continually remind his House colleagues of this resolution’s importance to America’s seniors, each, and every chance he has — on the House floor, at Committee meetings, and in the hallowed halls of Congress.  With the support of the Democratic caucus, leadership will get the message that it’s time to act.  Now.

Tom Spulak, former staff director and General Counsel of the House Rules Committee when Claude Pepper was Chairman.

Bob Weiner is former staff director and confident to the late Congressman Pepper when he chaired the HSCoA.

Herb Weiss is a Pawtucket, RI-based writer who has covered aging, health care and medical issues for over 40 years, and writes this weekly column on aging issues for RINewsToday.com.