S. 4782

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4782 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4782

To establish a Federal Government priority goal, Scams Steering 
Committee, Scams Action Plan, and website to promote scams information 
and prevention, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 15, 2026

Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the 
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a Federal Government priority goal, Scams Steering 
Committee, Scams Action Plan, and website to promote scams information 
and prevention, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``ReportScams.gov Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform of the House of Representatives; and
(C) any other committees of jurisdiction, as 
determined appropriate by the Comptroller General.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
the Office of Management and Budget.
(3) Federal scams action plan.--The term ``Federal Scams 
Action Plan'' means the Federal Scams Action Plan developed by 
the Scams Steering Committee under section 3(c).
(4) Scam.--The term ``scam'' means a method of committing 
fraud, involving the use of deception or manipulation intended 
to achieve financial gain, regardless of whether any related 
payments or transactions are authorized or unauthorized.
(5) Scams steering committee.--The term ``Scams Steering 
Committee'' means the interagency committee established under 
section 3(b).
(6) Scams priority goal.--The term ``Scams Priority Goal'' 
means the Federal Government priority goal to reduce scams 
affecting the people of the United States established under 
section 3(a).
(7) Scammer.--The term ``scammer'' means an individual, 
organization, or entity that engages in behavior that 
facilitates, commits, or attempts to commit a scam.
(8) Spoofing.--The term ``spoofing'' means utilizing 
technological means, such as websites, email addresses, phone 
numbers, etc., to impersonate legitimate or trusted persons or 
organizations.
(9) State.--The term ``State'' means any State of the 
United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, 
any political subdivision, or any department, agency, or 
instrumentality thereof.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRIORITY GOAL AND ACTION 
PLAN TO REDUCE SCAMS.

(a) Establishment of Scams Priority Goal.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall, in accordance with 
section 1120(a) of title 31 United States Code, establish a 
Federal Government priority goal to reduce scams affecting the 
people of the United States.
(2) Goal leaders.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
identify goal leaders for the Scams Priority Goal.
(B) Selection.--The goal leaders identified under 
subparagraph (A) shall include the Deputy Director for 
Management at the Office of Management and Budget and 
the Deputy Secretary or equivalent of not fewer than 1 
Federal department with a lead role in addressing 
scams.
(b) Establishment of Scams Steering Committee.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an 
interagency Scams Steering Committee, chaired by the goal 
leaders identified under subsection (a)(2)(A).
(2) Members.--The members of the Scams Steering Committee 
shall include 1 or more distinct representatives from each of 
the following Federal agencies responsible for reducing scams:
(A) The Department of Justice.
(B) The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(C) The Federal Reserve.
(D) The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
(E) The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
(F) The Federal Trade Commission.
(G) The Department of Homeland Security.
(H) Homeland Security Investigations.
(I) The United States Secret Service.
(J) The Department of the Treasury.
(K) The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
(L) The General Services Administration.
(M) Any other appropriate Federal agency, as 
determined by the goal leaders.
(c) Federal Scams Action Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Scams Steering Committee shall 
develop a Federal Scams Action Plan that--
(1) may use the expertise of relevant Federal departments, 
such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as any 
prior work completed toward cross-agency collaboration by 
relevant Federal departments with respect to scams prevention, 
education, reporting, assistance, and enforcement; and
(2) shall include--
(A) the information required under section 1122(c) 
of title 31, United States Code;
(B) a uniform, government-wide definition of scams 
that includes, at minimum, fraudulent activity 
involving the use of deception or manipulation intended 
to achieve financial gain, regardless of whether any 
related payment or transaction is authorized or 
unauthorized;
(C) a related classification standard for scam 
types;
(D) an initial baseline estimate of--
(i) the number and types of scams affecting 
the people of the United States; and
(ii) the financial costs associated with 
such scams;
(E) an ambitious 4-year target for reducing the 
number and cost of scams;
(F) strategies and activities for the prevention 
and thwarting of scams, including scams education 
programs for the public and for private industry and 
investigation into scams and scam-related activity; and
(G) strategies and activities for holding scam 
perpetrators accountable and supporting scam victims, 
including civil and criminal enforcement actions 
relating to scams and assistance and guidance for 
victims of scams.
(d) Website.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Scams Steering Committee shall 
establish a secure, centralized, publicly accessible website 
focused on scam prevention, reporting, and assistance that is 
easily recognizable and accessible, with the domain name 
reportscams.gov, which shall serve as the Federal Government's 
primary and centralized public-facing website relating to scams 
prevention, reporting, and assistance, through which the people 
of the United States can--
(A) access Federal Government resources relating to 
scams education and prevention;
(B) access resources relating to assistance for 
victims of scams; and
(C) report scams.
(2) Information.--The website described in paragraph (1) 
shall contain, at a minimum, the following:
(A) Published resources on scam prevention, 
including the following:
(i) Specific scam awareness information.--
Information updated not less frequently than 
once every 90 days on recent trends in scams, 
as well as specific scams, to be aware of.
(ii) Scam education.--Information and best 
practices aimed specifically at the public, 
including individual consumers, on how to be 
better aware of scams, how to recognize scams, 
how to avoid scams, and how to prevent personal 
financial loss associated with scams.
(iii) Immediate actions to prevent scams 
and reduce vulnerabilities.--Information on how 
members of the public, when receiving 
suspicious outreach (such as phone calls and 
messages, emails, and letters)--
(I) should take immediate steps to 
prevent falling victim to a scam, 
including how best to immediately cease 
interaction with potential scammers; 
and
(II) can identify potential 
vulnerabilities that may result from 
their interaction with a potential 
scammer, including potential financial 
vulnerabilities that may result from 
the interaction.
(B) Information on government impersonation scams, 
including spoofing scams, including the following:
(i) Descriptions and examples of common 
scams that involve fraudulent outreach from 
scammers purporting to be acting on behalf of a 
legitimate Federal Government entity.
(ii) An explanation of how these scams can 
utilize spoofing techniques to impersonate 
trusted persons, organizations, and other 
entities.
(iii) Verified contact information for 
common agencies that are often impersonated by 
scammers or associated with known scams--
(I) for the purpose of assisting 
members of the public who, after 
receiving suspicious outreach from a 
potential scammer, wish to proactively 
contact the relevant Federal agency via 
the verified contact information to 
verify the authenticity of any 
suspicious information or claims made 
as part of the suspicious outreach; and
(II) including a clear statement 
that this information should only be 
used to contact the agency, and not to 
verify any potential outreach that a 
member of the public may have received.
(C) Information on non-government entity 
impersonation scams, including spoofing scams, 
including the following:
(i) Descriptions and examples of common 
scams that involve fraudulent outreach from 
scammers purporting to be acting on behalf of 
non-government entities, such as financial 
institutions, charities, retailers, and other 
entities.
(ii) An explanation of how these scams can 
utilize spoofing techniques to impersonate 
trusted persons, organizations, and other 
entities.
(iii) As appropriate, verified contact 
information for each non-government entity that 
is often impersonated by scammers or associated 
with known scams, if the non-government entity 
explicitly consents to publicly providing such 
information--
(I) for the purpose of assisting 
members of the public who, after 
receiving suspicious outreach from a 
potential scammer, wish to proactively 
contact the non-government entity via 
the verified information to verify the 
authenticity of any suspicious 
information or claims made as part of 
the suspicious outreach; and
(II) including a clear statement 
that this information should only be 
used to contact the non-government 
entity, and not to verify any potential 
outreach that a member of the public 
may have received.
(D) Information and resources relating to 
assistance for members of the public who have fallen 
victim to scams, including--
(i) resources on immediate and long-term 
steps to take if an individual suspects they 
have been scammed, with an emphasis on--
(I) how to ensure that their assets 
and personal information are 
immediately safeguarded;
(II) any applicable personal 
actions that can be taken to thwart an 
ongoing scam;
(III) how to ensure the long-term 
safety of their assets and information;
(IV) how to seek financial and law 
enforcement assistance; and
(V) how to attempt to recoup 
losses, as applicable; and
(ii) contact information and relevant web 
links for the following organizations, so that 
members of the public may reach out for 
assistance:
(I) Relevant Federal law 
enforcement agencies.
(II) Relevant State law 
enforcement, including State Attorneys 
General and State Police and 
Investigative Services, subdivided by 
State.
(III) As appropriate and within the 
Scams Steering Committee's discretion, 
relevant local law enforcement 
agencies.
(IV) As appropriate and within the 
Scams Steering Committee's discretion, 
relevant State and local assistance 
agencies, with an emphasis on financial 
assistance, housing assistance, food 
assistance, elder assistance, and other 
forms of assistance.
(V) Relevant organizations that 
provide mental health and crisis 
intervention, including suicide 
intervention and support.
(VI) The National Elder Fraud 
Hotline.
(VII) As appropriate and within the 
Scams Steering Committee's discretion, 
additional organizations that may 
provide relevant assistance to members 
of the public.
(3) Reporting portal.--The website described in paragraph 
(1) shall include a single, secure, centralized Federal 
Government portal for scam reporting, through which members of 
the public can report scams and potential scams, that contains 
features and capabilities to accomplish the following:
(A) Provide members of the public a process to 
directly and securely submit reports of scams that will 
be directed to the appropriate authorities for criminal 
law enforcement purposes, civil enforcement reporting 
purposes, and general tracking of scams for Federal 
Government purposes.
(B) Receive reports under subparagraph (A) and 
ensure the reports are securely and expeditiously 
routed directly to--
(i) the appropriate Federal agencies for 
oversight, reporting, investigation, criminal 
law enforcement, and civil enforcement 
purposes; and
(ii) the appropriate State Police Agency, 
or equivalent State-level law enforcement 
agency, for the jurisdiction in which the 
reporting individual resides. If no such agency 
exists in the jurisdiction in which the 
reporting individual resides, then the portal 
shall route the report to the most appropriate 
law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over 
criminal investigations.
(C) With respect to reports routed under subsection 
(B), provide to the applicable Federal and State 
agencies--
(i) all information that was submitted with 
the report;
(ii) the name and contact information of 
the reporter;
(iii) the unique identifier under 
subparagraph (D)(iii);
(iv) a request that the agency 
expeditiously reach out to the individual 
submitting the report; and
(v) a clear statement that the information 
being provided in the report should be utilized 
to support any follow-on interactions between 
the individual submitting the report and the 
agency.
(D) Provide a process through which members of the 
public providing a report under subparagraph (A) shall 
securely and expeditiously receive--
(i) confirmation of receipt of their 
submission;
(ii) a copy of their submission;
(iii) a unique identifier assigned to their 
submission;
(iv) a list of what Federal and State 
agencies the submission has been routed to, as 
applicable;
(v) an estimate of what Federal agency, if 
any, will reach out regarding their submission 
and when;
(vi) an estimate of what State law 
enforcement agency, if any, will reach out with 
respect to their submission;
(vii) information on how to subsequently 
follow-up on their submission with the 
appropriate Federal agency and State agencies; 
and
(viii) a notice that in addition to 
reaching out to Federal and State law 
enforcement, the reporting individual may also 
contact local law enforcement, should they 
choose to do so.
(E) Provide general resources and follow-on steps 
that members of the public can use following their 
submission, including--
(i) a referral to the assistance 
information on the website under paragraph (2); 
and
(ii) information on filing a report with 
local or State law enforcement, separate from 
the portal, should they choose to do so.
(e) Public Awareness Campaign.--Upon establishment of the website 
under subsection (d), the Scams Steering Committee shall undertake a 
public awareness campaign communicating the existence of and 
recommending use of the website.

SEC. 4. QUARTERLY REPORTING AND CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.

(a) Quarterly Progress Review.--Beginning not later than the date 
of the end of the first calendar-year quarter ending after publication 
of the Federal Scams Action Plan, the Director shall ensure quarterly 
progress reviews and updates to the Federal Scams Action Plan are 
completed and submitted to Performance.gov, in accordance with sections 
1121 and 1122 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Publication and Submission to Congress.--Upon completion and 
submission of each quarterly progress review under subsection (a), the 
Director shall publish on the website established under section 3(d) 
and transmit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform of the House of Representatives the following:
(1) An electronic copy of the updated Federal Scams Action 
Plan.
(2) A summary of the quarterly performance review.

SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Scams Steering Committee 
shall publicly publish and submit to Congress, including the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
Representatives, a report that includes the following:
(1) Data related to scams reported to the Federal 
Government over the prior year, including, at a minimum, the 
number of scams reported, a breakdown of scams by type, the 
financial loss associated (or estimated) with scams reported 
over the prior year, demographics related to victims and 
targets of scams, relevant knowledge gained regarding the 
perpetrators of scams, and any criminal or civil enforcement 
data relating to scams during the 1-year period immediately 
preceding the date of the report.
(2) Trends related to scams reported during the 1-year 
period immediately preceding the date of the report.
(3) A summary of large-scale Federal Government 
investigations related to scams during the 1-year period 
immediately preceding the date of the report.
(4) Regulatory and legislative recommendations to prevent 
and address scams.
(5) Additional information and recommendations, as 
appropriate.
(b) Redacted Publication.--The annual report required to be 
publicly published under subsection (a) may be redacted to remove 
sensitive and classified material.

SEC. 6. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION TOOLS FOR THE SCAMS STEERING 
COMMITTEE.

(a) Purpose.--The authorities under this section shall serve to 
facilitate effective cross-agency implementation of the Scams Priority 
Goal.
(b) Interagency Transfer Authority.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1532 of title 31, 
United States Code, and subject to the limitations in this 
subsection, any agency represented on the Scams Steering 
Committee may transfer to another such agency not more than 
$10,000,000 during a fiscal year to support activities 
necessary to implement the Scams Priority Goal, including--
(A) interagency coordination and governance;
(B) shared analytical, data, or technological 
capabilities;
(C) development, operation, or improvement of the 
website under section 3(d); and
(D) activities outlined in the Federal Scams Action 
Plan.
(2) Limitations.--A transfer under paragraph (1) shall be--
(A) subject to the prior approval of the Director 
of the Office of Management and Budget;
(B) made only from funds available for the same 
purpose for which the receiving agency will use the 
funds;
(C) treated as an intra-governmental reimbursable 
transaction, and merged with the receiving 
appropriation; and
(D) reported to the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives not later than 30 days after 
execution.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
be construed to authorize any transfer of funds between 
appropriations that is barred by any other provision of law.
(c) Expedited Direct Hire Authority.--
(1) In general.--The head of any agency represented on the 
Scams Steering Committee may use direct-hire authority, in 
accordance with section 3304 of title 5, United States Code, to 
appoint employees to positions necessary to carry out the 
duties and responsibilities of the Steering Committee, 
including--
(A) data analysis, cybersecurity, financial crime 
analysis, user experience design, and fraud detection 
specialists;
(B) program and project management personnel; and
(C) other positions the Director determines are 
critical to implementing the Federal Scams Action Plan.
(2) Limitations.--The direct-hire authority under paragraph 
(1) shall--
(A) terminate on the date that is 5 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act;
(B) be available only for positions at or below the 
GS-15 level of the General Schedule under subchapter 
III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code; and
(C) be exercised in accordance with all applicable 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, unless 
otherwise provided in this Act.

SEC. 7. GAO REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION.

(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and 2 years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a review of Federal efforts to implement 
the Scams Priority Goal and submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report described in subsection (b).
(b) Report Contents.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) 
shall include an assessment of--
(1) the extent to which the Office of Management and Budget 
and Federal agencies represented on the Scams Steering 
Committee have implemented the requirements under sections 1120 
and 1122 of title 31, United States Code, including--
(A) the establishment of the Scams Priority Goal;
(B) designation of goal leaders;
(C) formation and operation of the Scams Steering 
Committee; and
(D) publication of the Federal Scams Action Plan 
and related quarterly updates on Performance.gov;
(2) the effectiveness of the Scams Steering Committee in 
improving interagency coordination and collaboration, including 
the development of shared priorities, data standards, and 
coordinated actions;
(3) the development, operation, usability, and performance 
of the website under section 3(d);
(4) progress made toward meeting the 4-year target 
established in the Federal Scams Action Plan for reducing the 
number and cost of scams, including an assessment of the 
reliability and sufficiency of supporting data;
(5) challenges, barriers, or inefficiencies impeding 
implementation of the Scams Priority Goal; and
(6) recommendations the Comptroller General determines 
appropriate to improve interagency coordination, public 
transparency, performance measurement, or overall effectiveness 
of scam prevention and response efforts.
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