WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Democratic colleagues on the Special Committee on Aging has sent a letter urging the Social Security Administration to respond to the growing threat of scams that target senior citizens benefits.
Casey, D-Scranton, said following recent news from the Federal Trade Commission that these scams are the most prevalent form of reported government imposter scams, the senators sent the letter to the Social Security Administration requesting information on the SSA’s work to prevent seniors from falling victims to such scams.
“For seniors, including many who live on fixed incomes, losing any amount of money to a scammer can force an individual to go without needed essentials, like groceries or medications,” wrote the senators. “Based on the median loss reported by the FTC, the average retired Social Security beneficiary, who receives $1,477 per month, is likely to lose all of their monthly income to a Social Security scam. It is highly unlikely that victims will ever have the money returned.”
In their letter, the senators urged the SSA to prioritize arming seniors with information to stop potential scams.
Earlier this month, Casey joined Aging Committee Chairman Susan Collins in sending a letter to FTC Chairman Joe Simons expressing concerns about pervasive Social Security scams and requesting information about the steps the FTC has taken to protect seniors.
In November, Casey and Collins also sent a letter to Social Security Administration Inspector General Gale Stallworth Stone, urging her to review the SSA’s steps to address Social Security scams.
The following senators, who are the Aging Committee Democratic members, have signed on to the letter: Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York; Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut; Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts; Doug Jones, D-Alabama; and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona.