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Subcommittee advances bill to create statewide elder-scam alert system
Summary
The subcommittee reported HB 2411 to the next committee; the bill would authorize the Attorney General’s office to issue statewide alerts when a pattern of scams targeting elders rises to a specified level.
The Technology and Innovation Subcommittee voted to report House Bill 2411, a bill to create an elder-scam alert system within the Office of the Attorney General’s consumer-protection functions.
Sponsor Delegate Del. Glass told the subcommittee the bill responds to rising losses by Virginians over age 60; she cited Federal Bureau of Investigation figures showing an increase in reported losses and said the aim is to enable rapid, preventative public notices when patterns of scams are detected. "If a scam raises to the level where we've seen a significant increase of folks, ... there is an alert saying this is on the rise," Glass said.
Witnesses and the sponsor framed the bill as a preventative measure: instead of acting only after losses occur, the alert system would provide public notice to reduce exposure. Glass said the alerts would be issued by the Attorney General's consumer protection division and would not impose civil liability on internet companies or third parties for the scams themselves.
The subcommittee voted to report the bill, with recorded support and a roll call showing the bill — as amended — reported 7 to 1. The committee did not identify a state fiscal impact during the hearing; Glass said the measure builds on existing consumer-protection authorities in the Attorney General’s office.
The bill advances to the next committee for further consideration and any appropriation questions.
