The Senior Financial Empowerment Act of 2009 (H.R. 3040), introduced by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC), seeks to stop abusive mail, telemarketing and Internet fraud targeting seniors.

“I became aware of the seriousness and scope of fraud targeting seniors when I helped my own grandmother in her later years,” said Baldwin. “These crimes can have severe financial and emotional consequences for older Americans and their families. Our bill will educate the public, seniors, their families, and their caregivers on how to identify and combat fraudulent activity.”

“My parents lived into their 90s, and there were times that I was aware that they were being targeted by less-than-honest telemarketers,” said Coble. “All of us must be vigilant to make sure that senior citizens do not fall prey to these unscrupulous operators. I am hopeful that the Baldwin-Coble bill will go a long way to providing the public with additional information to protect the elderly.”
The Senior Financial Empowerment Act of 2009 will promote efforts to increase public awareness of the enormous impact that mail, telemarketing and Internet fraud have on seniors.

An estimated 1.7 million seniors (35,000 in Wisconsin alone) will be the victims of financial exploitation in 2009, according to the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups.