U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, spearheaded a bipartisan effort on Tuesday to seek insights from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding its tactics in monitoring artificial intelligence (AI) scams aimed at older Americans. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined Casey in this initiative.
In their letter to the FTC, the Senators highlighted the escalating role of AI in fraudulent activities and sought information about the agency’s methods for tracking AI-powered scams and its preventive measures.
The Senators stated, “Many times, the AI-powered scams appear so realistic that victims remain unaware of the AI involvement. In such cases, generative AI intensifies the false panic and urgency victims often feel when targeted, inducing them to divulge private or financial information at the scammer’s request. Regrettably, it is clear that we still have much to learn about how AI will be deployed against American consumers and older adults in the future… efforts to educate the public, law enforcement, and policymakers should be guided by evidence-based data.”
The appeal for information follows last month’s hearing, “Modern Scams: How Scammers Are Using Artificial Intelligence & How We Can Fight Back,” led by Chairman Casey. The session explored how scammers can leverage AI to execute scams and convince targets of their authenticity and how AI technology enhances the next generation of fraud detection systems. During this hearing, Chairman Casey introduced the Aging Committee’s annual Fraud Book and also distributed a brochure on AI-powered scams and a bookmark featuring tips to avoid scams.
This move by Senators sends a clear message about the urgent need for robust strategies to combat the rising trend of AI-powered scams, especially those targeting vulnerable older Americans. The FTC’s response could set the tone for future legislation and preventative measures in this rapidly evolving digital threat landscape.
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