WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Rick Scott announced the passage of the Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization (SCAM) Act in the Senate. The bipartisan SCAM Act will work to dismantle foreign scam compounds, disrupt transnational criminal organizations’ efforts to carry out scams, and protect vulnerable Americans, particularly seniors, from the exploding threat of cyber-enabled fraud. This bill strengthens coordination across federal agencies, enhances international partnerships, and holds transnational criminal organizations accountable for human trafficking and forced criminality tied to scam operations.
Chairman Rick Scott said, “We must do more to hold criminals in Communist China and around the globe who are targeting innocent Americans and conducting scam operations accountable. The SCAM Act is a critical step toward protecting our seniors and every American impacted by ensuring our law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to stop this abuse. I’m grateful to work with my colleagues on this bipartisan solution and urge my colleagues in the House to pass it quickly so we can protect the American people.”
Senator John Cornyn said, “Transnational criminal organizations who are ensnaring innocent victims and coercing them into defrauding Americans must be held accountable. This legislation would take strategic steps to combat the growing threat of cyber scams posed by criminals connected to China and other bad actors and safeguard Americans and their pocketbooks.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen said, “Criminal operations overseas are trafficking people to into forced criminality in scam centers and draining billions from Americans every year. I’m proud the Senate passed my bill with Senator Cornyn to ensure a comprehensive, whole-of-government response to hold these international criminal actors accountable and protect Americans’ hard-earned money.”
Chairman Scott has been focusing on curbing the growing threat posed by scams for years, fighting for solutions to protect seniors, strengthen oversight, and combat increasingly sophisticated scams, including those using artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology. As chairman of the aging committee, he has:
The SCAM Act is cosponsored by Senators Pete Ricketts, James Lankford, Tammy Duckworth, Maggie Hassan, Jacky Rosen, and Tim Kaine. AARP has also endorsed this bill.
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