U.S. Representative Rodney L. Davis (IL - 13) issued the following announcement on May 27.
U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) is leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing H.R. 3489, the Reporting Instances of Non-authorized Grift (RING) Act of 2021, to assist older Americans in reporting and resolving instances of fraud. Also introducing the RING Act are U.S. Reps. Andy Kim (NJ-03), Katie Porter (CA-45), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Fred Keller (PA-12), and Mike Waltz (FL-06).
“With instances of fraud more prevalent than ever, older Americans need resources that are simple and easy to use so they can resolve fraud claims and protect their financial well-being,” said Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13). “That’s why I introduced the bipartisan RING Act. Our bipartisan legislation is supported by AARP and will establish unique, toll-free phone lines to help older Americans deal with fraud. I look forward to working to get this bill passed so older Americans have peace of mind when faced with fraud.”
“If our seniors are in trouble – from medical emergencies to financial ones – they should be able to pick up the phone and get help. The RING Act would make sure our seniors aren’t reliant on overly complicated online options to resolve billing errors. I’m proud to work with Congressman Davis on this, and look forward to seeing this bipartisan bill move forward so we can give our seniors a bit more much earned peace of mind,” said Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03).
“As a longtime consumer advocate, I know that fraudsters try to take advantage of older adults, often because of the lack of protections in place. Outlawing these scams isn’t enough; we need recourse for victims. I'm proud to partner with my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation to make it easier for older Americans to report and resolve instances of fraud,” said Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45).
“Acts of fraud against our nations’ seniors are all too common. They are often the group most vulnerable to predatory practices,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07). “This legislation is designed to offer older adults protection against deceitful conduct by establishing a dedicated hotline to assist with reporting and resolving fraudulent banking activity. In short, we are ensuring there is always a resource available to assist seniors targeted by fraudsters.”
“I am proud to join Congressman Davis as a co-sponsor of the RING Act, legislation that makes the arduous process of resolving cases of fraud easier for America’s seniors and community banks. This bill is especially important to rural communities whose populations are often unable to get to their bank in person due to health or transportation issues. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this bill to ensure our seniors do not experience undue burdens when securing their information and hard-earned money in cases of fraud,” said Rep. Fred Keller (PA-12).
“Too often American seniors are taken advantage of by scammers and financial predators and as a result lose much of their life savings,” said Rep. Mike Waltz (FL-06). “We need to ensure senior citizens have resources available to protect against and resolve fraud and this bill provides just that.”
“Too many scams explicitly target older adults, and the financial and emotional impact of fraud can be disastrous. We know that the older the victim, the greater the loss. Scam victims need a readily available means of contacting creditors to report the crime and seek resolution. AARP is pleased to support the RING Act, which will allow older Americans who are victims of fraud to resolve their concerns and address billing errors in a timely way,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, AARP
H.R. 3489 directs banking institutions to create a special, toll-free phone line for older adults and seniors ages 50 and older to report and resolve instances of fraud. This would help seniors, especially those with limited incomes or limited ability to get to their bank in-person, to resolve issues of fraud quickly. The bill would also require banks to provide clear and prominent notice to customers regarding the availability of such phone line through email, mail, websites, and other appropriate communications.
The legislation is supported by AARP.
Original co-sponsors of the legislation include U.S. Reps. Trent Kelly (MS-01), Ed Case (HI-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Andre Carson (IN-07), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), and Susan Wild (PA-07).
Original source can be found here.