WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) has joined legislation to protect older Americans from financial scams, which often spike during the busy holiday season. The Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act is a bipartisan bill endorsed by AARP that gives state and local law enforcement new tools to prevent and investigate financial scams targeting seniors.
“With the holidays approaching, far too many seniors will face scammers trying to take advantage of their kindness, trust, and hard-earned savings,” said Congressman Sorensen. “Our seniors deserve peace of mind. This bill gives local law enforcement the resources they need to stop scammers in their tracks and protect the people who’ve spent their lives building our communities.”
The GUARD Act would allow local police departments and sheriff’s offices to use existing Department of Justice grant programs—such as COPS grants—to hire trained analysts, improve data collection, purchase modern investigation software, and provide officers with specialized training on financial fraud and online scam detection.
The bill also requires a national report from financial regulators and the Department of Justice to better track and understand fraud trends across the country.
The legislation comes at a critical time, as reports of romance scams, investment fraud, and online financial deception continue to rise nationwide, especially during the holiday season, when shopping and charitable giving increase.
The GUARD Act is now moving through the House with bipartisan support.