Oct. 18, 2017
HARRISBURG – Legislation by Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) to increase cooperation between state agencies, in order to enhance protection from senior citizens in cases of unwanted telephone calls which lead to financial exploitation was unanimously approved by the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee today.
“There have been an increased number of reported senior abuse and fraud cases over the past several years across Pennsylvania,” Topper said. “
House Bill 448 would help our agencies gain valuable information on how people fall victim to financial exploitation. Learning how these fraud cases happen is a key ingredient to preventing those senior citizens from falling victim.”
Topper’s bill calls for the state Office of the Attorney General to notify the Pennsylvania Department of Aging on a regular basis regarding any investigation being conducted under the state’s Telemarketer Registration Act which involves someone age 60 or older. Through that cooperation, local Area Agencies on Aging could identify, or possibly observe, potential patterns of financial exploitation, such as scams and sweepstakes fraud. Under current law, the attorney general’s office only reports detailed investigations and enforcement actions during the preceding fiscal year to the General Assembly.
The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
Representative Jesse Topper
78th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
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