WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced Tuesday their bipartisan legislation to crack down on fraud targeted at seniors passed the Senate Commerce Committee, paving the way for a vote in the full Senate. Schemes targeting seniors include fraudulent investment plans, prizes, and sweepstakes, internet fraud, charity scams, predatory home lenders, telemarketing and mail fraud, accessing assets through undue influence, using fraudulent legal documents, and Ponzi schemes, a news release said. The bipartisan Seniors Fraud Prevention Act would help fight scams designed to strip seniors of their assets by helping educate seniors about fraud schemes and improving monitoring and response to fraud complaints, the release said.

"Too often seniors can have their entire life savings snatched up in scams specifically designed to target their assets," Klobuchar said. "Today's action brings us one step closer to passing our legislation and providing seniors and their families with the tools they need to avoid scams before they happen."