August 11, 2020
Carson City, NV –Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford is
urging the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to include Edith’s Bill in
COVID-19 relief legislation. This bipartisan legislation would amend the
Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) to make victims of senior fraud eligible
for reimbursement by the Crime Victims Fund for states that provide
compensation to victims. Scam artists know that seniors are especially at risk
from COVID-19, and are targeting those who are isolated at home and are
separated from families and support networks.
“Scam artists are
always looking for ways to target our senior population, and just like other
victims of crime, our seniors should be compensated for their losses,” said
AG Ford. “By advocating for Edith’s Bill, I’m advocating for each and every
one of our seniors whose time and wallets are affected by scams.”
Edith’s Bill, or the
Edith Shorougian Senior Victims of Fraud Compensation Act (S. 3487/H.R. 7620)
will also amend VOCA so that penalties and fines from deferred prosecution and
non-prosecution agreements, which can include white collar criminal conduct
against seniors, are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund.
Across all states,
there has been a surge in COVID-19 scams targeting vulnerable seniors.The U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Office of Inspector General has warned that fraudsters “are offering
COVID-19 tests to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for personal details,
including Medicare information.” This is unfortunately just one of many
COVID-19 scams targeting seniors.
Even after the
pandemic, it is widely expected that seniors will continue to be targeted by
fraudsters. By using this legislation to add senior fraud as an eligible reimbursement
expense under VOCA, states will be able to help victims receive the financial
relief they deserve. This legislation would incentivized, but not mandate,
states to provide compensation to victims of senior fraud.
In addition to Nevada,
attorneys general from the following states joined the letter: Alabama, Alaska,
Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam,
Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern
Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and
Wisconsin.
A copy of the letter can be
found here.
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