Amo Introduces Bipartisan Legislative Package to Protect Consumers from Surging Scams and Financial Fraudsters

WASHINGTON, DC - TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to combat scams, the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act and the Strengthening Task Forces to Oppose Predatory (STOP) Scams Against Seniors Act.

"Too many Rhode Islanders have been taken for a ride by scammers skimming their pockets and stealing their hard-earned money, leaving many devastated and destitute," said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). "I'm proud to introduce these bipartisan measures, one of which is also bicameral, to ensure we are addressing the rising scam threat in a coordinated and strategic manner. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate as the national strategy is developed to keep fighting scammers and keep Rhode Islanders money where it belongs, in their pockets."

"Too many seniors are being targeted by increasingly sophisticated financial scams," said Congressman Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), House co-lead of the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act. "Strengthening our Elder Justice Task Forces gives law enforcement the tools they need to better protect older Americans and hold these criminal organizations accountable. I'm proud to join this effort to help safeguard some of our most trusting citizens."

"As a former state attorney general, nothing makes my blood boil more than crooks and scam artists who rip off billions of dollars each year from Americans, particularly our seniors," said Congressman Derek Schmidt (R-KS) House co-lead of the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act. "Too often, the alphabet soup of federal agencies assigned to protect Americans from scammers get stuck in their individual silos of responsibility and jurisdiction. Our bill is aimed at coordinating the federal response to scams and improving the cooperation among the authorities that are supposed to stop them."

"Last year alone, Americans lost over $16 billion to scams. That's a staggering amount of money that's been stolen from our families, our neighbors, and, disproportionately, our seniors," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate co-lead of the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act. "I'm proud to introduce the bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to help make sure seniors don't get scrooged this holiday season. It's clear that we need a coordinated national strategy to tackle the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting our seniors, and this legislation would bring that to fruition. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this vital bill across the finish line."

The bipartisan, bicameral National Strategy for Combating Scams Act would establish a federal working group led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to coordinate the efforts of more than a dozen federal agencies in combating scams. The bill is co-led by Congressman Derek Schmidt (R-KS) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ashley Moody (R-FL).

The bipartisan STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, introduced in the House, would authorize the creation of Elder Justice Task Forces to help local, state, and Federal agencies work together to investigate and prosecute illegal scammers. The bill is co-led by Congressman Jeffersen Shreve (R-IN).

Background

Rhode Island has seen a surge in scams targeting seniors in recent years. According to the FBI, victims in Rhode Island lost $6,309,411 to senior fraud in 2024.

This year, Congressman Amo launched the bipartisan Stop Scams Caucus to protect Americans from financial fraud, cyber scams, and cross-border criminal networks. The caucus serves as a hub in Congress to safeguard Americans' hard-earned dollars.

In January, Amo convened a roundtable conversation at the Middletown Senior Center with Rhode Islanders about preventing being defrauded.

On October 29, 2024, Congressman Amo sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina M. Khan ​​requesting assistance to address fraud and scams affecting seniors in Rhode Island and across the country.

The Strengthening Task Forces to Oppose Predatory (STOP) Scams Against Seniors Act is endorsed by the AARP, the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, the Financial Technology Association (FTA), Operation Shamrock, the National Crime Prevention Council, the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, and the Stop Scams Alliance.

Read the full bill text here. A letter of support for the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act from the AARP can be found here.

The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act is endorsed by the AARP, the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, the Financial Technology Association (FTA), Justice in Aging, the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA), the National Crime Prevention Council, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA), the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA), the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), Operation Shamrock, and the Stop Scams Alliance. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Meta also support the bill.

Read the full bill text here. A letter of support from the AARP for the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act can be found here.

Additional quotes in support of the bills can be found here.

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