What This Bill Does
H.R. 8023, the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act, would require the Federal Trade Commission to add new information about scams that disproportionately target seniors during emergencies to its existing report under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act. It also directs the FTC to update its web portal with the latest scam information, searchable by region and scam type, and to point consumers to where they can report these scams. The bill does not create a new grant or penalty program; its main mechanism is reporting, public information, and coordination. It applies to the FTC and to seniors, their families, and caregivers who may be affected by emergency-related fraud.
- Requires the FTC to add senior-emergency-scam data to its report under 34 U.S.C. 21711(c)(2).
- The report must cover the number and types of scams, prevention policy efforts, and enforcement actions.
- The FTC must update its web portal with the latest scam information, searchable by region and scam type.
- The portal must direct consumers to where they can report scams disproportionately impacting seniors.
- The FTC must work with media outlets and law enforcement to distribute the information to seniors, families, and caregivers.
Who This Bill Affects
For the general public, the bill would mainly improve access to information about emergency-related scams and make it easier to report them through the FTC’s web portal. Seniors, their families, and caregivers are the most directly affected, since the bill specifically targets scams that disproportionately impact seniors and requires the FTC to share region- and scam-specific information.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Older adults and senior advocates They would likely support the bill because it focuses federal attention on scams that disproportionately target seniors during emergencies. Better reporting and public information can help older adults recognize fraud patterns sooner and know where to report them.
- Consumer protection advocates They can argue the bill improves transparency without waiting for a new enforcement regime. Requiring the FTC to publish scam trends, prevention efforts, and enforcement actions can help consumers and watchdogs track whether the government is responding effectively.
- Families and caregivers of seniors They may favor the bill because it gives them region-specific, searchable information they can use to warn relatives during emergencies. The coordination with media and law enforcement could make scam alerts reach people faster.
- Privacy and civil-liberties skeptics They may worry that expanding public reporting and regional scam tracking could create confusion or expose sensitive enforcement information if not carefully handled. They could also question whether the added reporting burden is worth the administrative effort.
- Budget-conscious lawmakers Even without a new spending program, they may object to additional federal reporting and web-portal duties as another mandate on the FTC. They may prefer the agency to focus resources on direct enforcement rather than recurring reporting and outreach.
- Small businesses and local media outlets Some may be concerned about being pulled into coordination efforts during emergencies, especially if they are asked to help distribute scam information. They may see the bill as adding expectations without providing dedicated funding or clear operational guidance.
Key Implications
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““include in each report ... certain information relating to scams disproportionately impacting seniors during emergencies””
This creates an ongoing reporting obligation tied to the FTC’s existing elder-abuse report. The practical effect is that Congress and the public would get regular updates on a specific fraud category rather than only ad hoc warnings.
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““searchable by region and type of scam””
The FTC’s web portal would become more usable for people trying to check whether a scam is active in their area. That could help families and caregivers compare local fraud patterns instead of relying on broad national alerts.
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““include information directing consumers where to report scams””
The bill is not just about awareness; it also tries to funnel victims to reporting channels. That can improve complaint collection and potentially help investigators spot trends faster.
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““work with media outlets and law enforcement””
The FTC would be expected to coordinate outside its own website to spread scam warnings. In practice, that could broaden reach during emergencies, when seniors may not be checking federal websites directly.
Latest Status
April 19, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.
Will It Pass?
14% estimated chance of becoming law
H.R. 8023 was introduced in the House on April 16, 2024, by Rep. Kelly of Illinois with Mr. Balderson as a cosponsor, and it was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; the recent action listed is referral to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce on April 19, 2024. Because it is a narrowly targeted reporting-and-awareness bill, it fits the category of smaller consumer-protection legislation rather than a broad program overhaul, and bills of this type often move through committee as oversight measures rather than as major standalone enactments.
Pass percentages are model estimates and may be inaccurate.
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