MEDIA ADVISORY Chairman Rick Scott to Lead Aging Committee Field Hearing in Florida on Protecting Seniors from Fraud and Financial Scams

DORAL, Fla. – On Thursday, August 7, Chairman Rick Scott of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging will lead a field hearing titled “Protecting Florida’s Seniors: Fighting Fraud and Financial Exploitation.” This hearing will address the growing threat that scams and financial fraud pose to aging Americans and explore ways to strengthen protections for seniors across the nation. The committee will hear from expert witnesses and community leaders on best practices for prevention, improved reporting, and coordinated responses to fraud in an effort to better understand how community outreach, education, and enforcement can work together to safeguard our aging community.

This hearing follows the committee’s release of the 2025 Fraud Report, which highlights the alarming rise in scams, particularly sophisticated schemes that utilize artificial intelligence. In 2024 alone, frauds and scams cost seniors over $4.8 billion, with those aged 50-59 losing an additional $2.5 billion. Chairman Scott recently announced new legislation he is leading, the STOP Scammers Act and the GUARD Act, to combat fraud and financial scams targeting our seniors.

Witnesses for the hearing will include:

• Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office

• Jeff Johnson, State Director, AARP Florida

• The Honorable Kathy Kraninger, President and CEO, Florida Bankers Association

• Brandy Bauer, Joint Center Director for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center and the Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center

WHEN: Thursday, August 7, 2025

10:00AM

WHERE: Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office

9105 NW 25^th Street

Doral, FL 33172

WATCH: Live broadcast online HERE.

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