Chairman Rick Scott of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging led a hearing focused on international scams that target older Americans, with particular attention to operations connected to China. The hearing, titled “Made in China, Paid by Seniors: Stopping the Surge of International Scams,” brought together expert witnesses to discuss how global scam networks operate and the role of digital infrastructure in enabling these crimes.
The panel included Nathan Picarsic from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Kathy Stokes from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, and Jacqueline Burns Koven from Chainalysis. Their testimonies addressed how scam operations use technology platforms and payment systems based in China, as well as criminal compounds in countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
Chairman Scott has prioritized efforts to protect seniors from fraud through several initiatives. These include leading a bipartisan report on fraud against seniors, maintaining a toll-free fraud hotline for education and support, and sponsoring legislation such as the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act, GUARD Act, STOP Scammers Act, and the National Slam the Scam Day resolution.
During his opening statement, Chairman Scott said: “The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging will now come to order.
Today, we are here to discuss a growing threat to American seniors and our families: the surge of international scams rooted in Communist China and its regional criminal networks.
Scams targeting seniors are stealing billions of dollars from hardworking Americans, and we here in Congress have a responsibility to confront them head-on.
The scope of this problem is staggering. In 2024, older Americans lost more than $4.8 billion to fraud, according to the FBI.
These are retirees who spend decades working, saving, and planning for their futures, only to have their lives upended by monsters operating criminal networks overseas.
As our committee’s Age of Fraud report last year makes clear, these are not small-time criminals.
These are highly organized, transnational enterprises, many of them directed or enabled by the Chinese Communist Party.
We know how these groups work. They rely on Chinese platforms, Chinese payment channels, and scam compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and elsewhere – compounds built and staffed by trafficked workers forced to carry out scams targeting Americans.
Not only is this a disgusting display of international failures to protect human rights, dignity, and security, it’s also another way Communist China is undermining our country and targeting the American people.
Beijing has allowed this criminal infrastructure to grow and thrive. No matter what you believe – indifference, lack of enforcement, or strategic tolerance -- Communist China is the epicenter of the global scam industry that drains American savings and destabilizes families.
I decided to make this the first hearing of the year to send a clear message that we will not tolerate any further inaction as the CCP seeks to hurt our seniors in what should be their golden years.
Communist China and its criminal enterprise network MUST BE STOPPED.
We have common-sense legislation ready to go that would make a real difference in combating scams and holding those responsible accountable.
At the end of last year, Ranking Member Gillibrand and I, along with our fellow committee members Senators Ashley Moody and Mark Kelly, introduced the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act.
This bill would FINALLY require a coordinated, whole-of-government response to fight fraud recognizing that after billions upon billions of dollars are being lost every year it’s time we finally get federal state and private-sector partners together under a unified strategy.
I am also proud that my Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization or SCAM Act was passed by the Senate last month. This bill would give the Treasury Department the authority to sanction scam compounds and the criminal networks behind them.
Criminals shouldn’t be free to hide behind foreign compounds use Chinese infrastructure and still access the U.S. financial system.
Additionally Ranking Member Gillibrand and I are also pushing for the GUARD Act. This bill strengthens penalties against criminals who target older Americans and gives law enforcement more tools to prevent these crimes.
These three bills are bipartisan. They are common-sense. And they are designed to protect the American people.
It is time we all come together and get this legislation passed so we can stop the bleeding of American dollars to international criminals.
Here’s the reality: There isn’t a person alive who isn’t susceptible to Communist China’s scams ,and they won’t stop unless we do something.
We cannot continue to sit idly by as these criminals harm Americans. Now is the time to take action to protect our seniors and every American."
Scott then recognized Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand for her remarks. According to information from its official website, The Senate Aging Committee addresses issues impacting older Americans—including Social Security—and conducts hearings like this one as part of its mandate. The committee also provides public resources such as reports on aging issues (source), operates educational tools including a fraud hotline (source), oversees elder care programs nationwide (source), investigates elder abuse prevention (source), maintains offices at key Senate buildings (source), functions with powers for hearings/investigations (source), offers resources like reports/fraud prevention tools (source), operates as an official legislative body addressing elder issues (source), transitioned from temporary status in 1977 (source), with Rick Scott serving as chair alongside ranking member Kirsten Gillibrand (source).
The hearing reflects ongoing congressional oversight into scams affecting older adults—a central focus area for this special committee since its founding.
