[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 852 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 852

Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for programs and 
  activities to prevent perpetrators of fraud from victimizing senior 
                               citizens.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 9, 2004

 Mr. Davis of Illinois (for himself and Ms. Schakowsky) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for programs and 
  activities to prevent perpetrators of fraud from victimizing senior 
                               citizens.

Whereas perpetrators of mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud frequently 
        target their schemes at senior citizens because seniors are often 
        vulnerable and trusting people;
Whereas, as victims of such schemes, many senior citizens have been robbed of 
        their hard-earned life savings and frequently pay an emotional cost, 
        losing not only their money, but also their self-respect and dignity;
Whereas perpetrators of fraudulent schemes against American seniors often 
        operate outside the United States, reaching their victims through the 
        mail, telephone lines, and the Internet;
Whereas the Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement Act increased the power of 
        the United States Postal Service to protect consumers against those who 
        use deceptive mailings featuring games of chance, sweepstakes, skill 
        contests, and facsimile checks;
Whereas the Postal Inspection Service responded to 66,000 mail fraud complaints, 
        arrested 1,691 mail fraud offenders, convicted 1,477 such offenders, and 
        initiated 642 civil or administrative actions in fiscal year 2001;
Whereas mail fraud investigations by the Postal Inspection Service in fiscal 
        year 2001 resulted in over $1,200,000,000 in court-ordered and voluntary 
        restitution payments;
Whereas the Postal Inspection Service, in an effort to curb cross-border fraud, 
        is involved in 3 major fraud task forces with law enforcement officials 
        in Canada, namely, Project Colt in Montreal, The Strategic Partnership 
        in Toronto, and Project Emptor in Vancouver;
Whereas consumer awareness is the best protection from fraudulent schemes; and
Whereas it is vital to increase public awareness of the enormous impact that 
        fraud has on senior citizens in the United States, and to educate the 
        public, senior citizens, their families, and their caregivers about the 
        signs of fraudulent activities and how to report suspected fraudulent 
        activities to the appropriate authorities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives hereby expresses its 
support for programs and activities--
            (1) to prevent perpetrators of fraud from victimizing 
        senior citizens in the United States; and
            (2) to educate and inform the public, senior citizens, 
        their families, and their caregivers about fraud perpetrated 
        through mail, telemarketing, and the Internet.
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