WHEREAS, As the population ages and more Americans become senior citizens with life savings, they become greater targets for fraud and deception. The ease of access for criminals to contact seniors through the Internet and telephone increases as more creative schemes emerge; and

WHEREAS, Senior fraud is a growing concern as millions have fallen victim to scams, including Medicare scams, sweepstakes and lottery scams, investment and work at home scams, bereavement scams, identity theft, charity scams, granny scams, and home repair scams. Seniors citizens average one scam-type letter and two telemarketing phone calls per week; and

WHEREAS, Senior fraud is underreported due to older adults’ embarrassment and lack of information about where to report fraud; and

WHEREAS, There are about 5 million cases of financial exploitation of the elderly in the United States each year. The financial loss by victims is more than $42.9 $2.9 billion dollars annually for reported cases; and

WHEREAS, Caregivers, scam artists, and unscrupulous salespersons are the primary instigators of senior fraud. The tactics used are intimidation, fear, friendliness, authority, and control to get the victim to send money or share private financial information; and

WHEREAS, As senior citizens own more than half of all the financial assets in America, they are the primary targets for fraudulent practices. It is estimated by the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care that even though seniors only represent 12 percent of the population, they represent 30 percent of the scam victims; and

WHEREAS, According to the Department of Corporations, it is estimated that 70 percent of Californians over 50 years of age have been solicited by someone with the intent to defraud them; and

WHEREAS, The Los Angeles City Council commended Adrienne Omansky’s Stop Senior Scams Acting Program, in which over 35 students from the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Programs for Older Adults have performed at numerous venues their 30-minute skit informing older adults about current scams that target the older adult population, and the city council declared May 15, 2013, as “Senior Fraud Awareness Day” in Los Angeles; now, therefore, be it