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S 4821

STOP Scams Against Seniors Act

119th Congress Introduced by Ashley Moody

Authorizes using Byrne/JAG funds to create elder justice task forces to combat financial scams against adults 60+, with regular reporting on cases and victim support.

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4821

Overview

S. 4821, the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, introduced in the 119th Congress, aims to authorize the use of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds to establish and support elder justice task forces. These task forces would focus on preventing and addressing financial exploitation, scams, and fraud targeting adults aged 60 and older. The bill also requires reporting on the activities and outcomes of these task forces.

Purpose and Intent

  • Strengthen protections for seniors against financial scams and exploitation.
  • Leverage existing Byrne/JAG funding to create specialized elder justice task forces at the state and/or local level.
  • Improve coordination among law enforcement, prosecutors, adult protective services, and federal agencies to combat elder financial crimes.

Key Provisions

  1. Authorization of Byrne Funds for Elder Justice Task Forces (Section 2(a))

    • Amends Section 501(a)(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to add:
      • A new category: Establishment, operation, and implementation of elder justice task forces.
      • Purpose: Address financial exploitation, scams, and fraud targeting individuals 60 years and older.
      • Potential participants: State and local law enforcement, prosecutors, adult protective services professionals, and Federal agencies (including FBI, FTC, DOJ, and U.S. Secret Service).

  2. Reporting Requirements (Section 2(b))

    • Adds a new reporting requirement (Sec. 510) for recipients who use Byrne/JAG funds for elder justice task forces:
      • Include in grant reports:
      • Number of cases initiated by the elder justice task force during the grant period.
      • Number of cases fully investigated and concluded during the period.
      • Number of fraud victims provided support, legal assistance, or restitution.
      • For each victim/case: type of scam and method of initial contact by perpetrators.
      • For each victim/case: indicators of organized or transnational criminal involvement.
    • Annual Attorney General report to Congress:
      • Summarizes the information provided by recipients under subsection (a).

Who Is Affected

  • Grant recipients under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG), including states and units of local government that receive Byrne/JAG funds.
  • Elderly individuals (ages 60 and older) who are victims or potential victims of financial scams and exploitation.
  • Federal and local agencies involved in crime prevention, enforcement, adult protective services, and consumer protection (e.g., FBI, FTC, DOJ, U.S. Secret Service).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary (as of the bill text date).
  • No specific funding amounts or implementation timeline are provided in the text excerpt; the bill directs the use of existing Byrne/JAG funds for the purpose of establishing elder justice task forces.
  • Reporting timeline:
    • Grant recipients report during the grant period for activities and outcomes (as part of standard reporting, with added elder justice metrics).
    • Attorney General must provide an annual report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees summarizing the elder justice task force information.

Potential Impact

  • Enhanced federal, state, and local collaboration to detect, investigate, and combat scams targeting seniors.
  • Improved identification of scam patterns, victim support services, and restitution opportunities for elder victims.
  • Data collection and transparency through standardized metrics, enabling evaluation of effectiveness and identification of gaps.
  • Increased focus on both preventive and reactive measures against elder financial exploitation.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to existing elder justice initiatives or outline potential implementation considerations (e.g., coordination challenges, data privacy considerations, and metrics for success).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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