Dateline: August 2, 2001

Thornberry warns of fliers making rounds 

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) expressed concern Tuesday about misleading and inaccurate fliers being targeted toward seniors.

One of the fliers falsely informs recipients that they are entitled to $5,000 under the Slave Reparations Act and asks for personal information to place the recipient on a “National Victim’s Registrar.”

The second flier targets “notch babies”, those born between 1917 and 1921. It promises recipients a $5,000 lump sum settlement or higher Social Security benefits.

The fliers request a donation payable to the Senior Citizens League, an independent affiliate of The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) and have been distributed in various forms in churches, senior centers, nursing homes, magazines, newspapers, local government offices. They also have been mailed directly to seniors.

“We all receive mail from time to time that is questionable in nature,” Thornberry stated. “What sets these mailings apart from some others is that they’re hitting people up for money based on claims that are factually untrue.

“The Inspector General of the Social Security Administration recently completed an investigation into these mailings. A congressional hearing on the issue was held last week as well.

“The consensus was that these mailings were a hoax and that a lot of people - mainly seniors - could be fooled if they didn’t know the facts. I think it’s important that people know the facts.”

The SSA investigation was completed last month by SSA Inspector General James G. Huse. Huse found that the mailings were misleading, and he in turn issued a nationwide alert to senior citizens urging them to use great caution when responding to solicitations promising additional Social Security payments.

Last week, during a hearing of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, Huse stated, “This alert followed a lengthy investigation which confirmed that more than 29,000 elderly persons had been duped by hoax fliers promising $5,000 in additional Social Security benefit payments, an increase in monthly benefit amounts, and/or slave reparations from the government.”

Thornberry noted that he received a letter just this past week from a woman who received a mailing about the notch issue from TREA Senior Citizens League and wondered if the claims being made were true.

“It’s a shame that seniors are being exploited in this manner,” Thornberry said.

“The bottom line is that seniors need to use extreme caution when responding to letters concerning their Social Security benefits. If anyone has a question about a letter or flier they have received, they should contact me at once. Those with questions about the notch issue also may contact the AARP for additional information.”