The Iowa senator is urging action from the FTC to combat “appalling and disgusting” fraud against seniors
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) is calling for bipartisan action to crackdown on scammers who are targeting seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic after several instances of fraud arise in Iowa and nationwide.
KWQC-TV reported about a scam targeting Iowa seniors, a group particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, in the Fort Madison region. According to police, scammers had been contacting seniors about purchasing and demanding payment for a vaccination for COVID-19 when one does not yet exist.
Click here for a video of Senator Ernst describing her efforts to crackdown on scammers who are targeting Iowa seniors during the pandemic.
“In this time of crisis, when Iowans are pulling together to help one another, it is utterly appalling and disgusting to see scammers going after our seniors. This cannot continue,” said Senator Joni Ernst. “I’m calling for a crackdown on these horrendous criminals and for more information to be available for our elderly and those most at-risk about how to best protect against this kind of disgusting fraud. We are all in this together, and we need to all do our best to look after one another, especially our seniors and those who may be most at-risk.”
In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the federal body that primarily oversees consumer protection, Senator Ernst is urging for additional measures to be put in place to educate seniors and provide consumers with information about how to seek recourse if they are targeted.
In her letter, Senator Ernst specifically requested responses to the following questions:
On Wednesday, Senator Ernst held another telephone town hall and heard from many of Iowa’s seniors. On the tele-town hall, Ernst was joined by the state director of AARP Iowa, Brad Anderson, and the dean of the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, Dr. Brooks Jackson. During the discussion, Ernst and Anderson discussed best practices for seniors and ways to avoid scammers and fraud during this pandemic.
Background on Ernst’s efforts to combat COVID-19:
Senator Ernst has fought to deliver relief to all Iowans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of her efforts:
For additional information for Iowans on COVID-19, you can visit Senator Ernst’s website, which includes resources for families and individuals, small businesses, and seniors.
For a PDF of Senator Ernst’s letter to the FTC, click here.
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