9th District Bill Would Raise Identity Theft Penalties For Seniors, Veterans

TRENTON, NJ — A bill sponsored by Sen. Carmen Amato Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre to increase penalties for identity theft targeting seniors and veterans was unanimously approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

The measure, S-1526, is backed by the 9th Legislative District delegation. According to a joint statement issued after the committee vote, the bill would strengthen existing state law by increasing penalties by one degree when the victim is a senior citizen or a veteran. The delegation also said the legislation has bipartisan support, with Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-36, serving as second prime sponsor.

“Many of our constituents are seniors and veterans that are increasingly alarmed about being specifically targeted for identity theft by fraudsters. Statistics show they are justified in being alarmed as seniors and veterans can be common targets for fraudsters, for such reasons as social isolation or a steady income consisting of veterans’ benefits, disability payments or other government programs,” the delegation said.

The delegation’s statement pointed to fraud data from New Jersey and nationwide.

“In 2023, more than 2,000 seniors in New Jersey reported scams to the FBI, and the state had $251.7 million in fraud losses reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Nationally, seniors lost over $3.4 billion to scams in 2023,” the delegation said.

The sponsors said the bill changes how certain identity theft cases would be graded when a senior or veteran is among the victims.

“Essentially, our legislation would strengthen existing State law by increasing penalties by one degree when the victim is a senior or veteran,” the delegation said. “For example, current law provides that if an actor obtains a benefit or deprives another of a benefit in an amount of at least $500, but less than $75,000 or the offense involves the identity of at least two but less than five victims, the actor is guilty of a crime of the third degree. Under our legislation, if any of the victims is a senior citizen or a veteran, the offense constitutes a crime of the second degree.”

S-1526 now awaits further consideration by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, according to the statement. Amato serves on that committee. The Assembly companion bill, A-2808, sponsored by Rumpf and Myhre, is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee.