House Panel Advances Bipartisan Scam Prevention Bill
House lawmakers are moving forward with bipartisan legislation aimed at creating a more coordinated federal response to digital scams and financial fraud.
The Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act, H.R. 5967, recently advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. The bill, introduced by Reps. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., and Rob Menendez, D-N.J., would establish an interagency task force convened by the Federal Trade Commission, with the Department of Justice and other federal agencies participating.
The proposal comes as lawmakers raise concerns about the growing financial impact of scams and the fragmented way federal agencies currently respond. Houchin has cited approximately $15.9 billion in reported fraud losses in 2025 and said a more unified strategy is needed to close gaps that sophisticated scam operations can exploit.
Bill Would Bring Federal Agencies Under One Strategy
Under H.R. 5967, the FTC would convene a national task force that includes the Department of Justice, FBI, and other federal agencies with roles in fraud prevention, enforcement, financial oversight, communications, and consumer protection.
Participants would include the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of the Treasury, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Communications Commission, FBI, U.S. Postal Service, and Department of Veterans Affairs.
The task force would be charged with developing a coordinated national strategy for preventing scams, improving information sharing across agencies, strengthening consumer education, and making better use of existing law enforcement and complaint-reporting systems.
The legislation also calls for closer coordination with international partners as scam networks increasingly operate across jurisdictions and borders.
There Will be Consultation With the Private Sector
A major part of the legislation is its focus on collaboration between government agencies and companies that often see scam activity before it is reported to regulators.
The task force would consult with representatives from banking, cryptocurrency, peer-to-peer payment platforms, social media, consumer-facing artificial intelligence, and other technology sectors.
Houchin has argued that these companies can identify suspicious behavior and emerging fraud patterns earlier than federal systems in many cases. Giving them a formal role could provide regulators and law enforcement agencies with faster access to information that helps identify and disrupt scams.
For financial institutions and payment companies, the proposal could also create a more direct channel for sharing intelligence about suspicious activity and emerging fraud methods.
GAO Has Raised Similar Coordination Concerns
The push for a national strategy follows concerns raised by the Government Accountability Office about the federal government’s existing approach to scams.
In an April 2025 report, GAO found that 13 federal agencies were involved in activities to counter scams, but none identified a comprehensive government-wide strategy guiding those efforts. GAO concluded that stronger coordination could help agencies target resources more effectively and respond to scams in a more consistent way.
The watchdog issued 16 recommendations addressing areas including federal coordination, consumer complaint data, scam estimates, definitions, and consumer education.
Those findings have added support to arguments that anti-fraud efforts need clearer ownership and stronger communication between agencies.
ACA International Backs Stronger Fraud Prevention
ACA International has expressed support for the broader goals behind the legislation and has previously urged federal regulators to strengthen efforts against fraudulent activity affecting consumers and the credit ecosystem.
The association has raised concerns about alleged identity theft claims and the role of sophisticated credit repair organizations that may contribute to inaccurate or misleading disputes.
Leah Dempsey, a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP and ACA International’s lobbyist, said the association supports efforts to hold scam actors and individuals spreading financial misinformation accountable.
The legislation now moves to consideration by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Its progress reflects a broader shift in the federal fraud debate. Rather than relying on individual agencies to address scams independently, lawmakers are increasingly focused on creating a shared strategy that combines government enforcement with intelligence from the private sector. Whether that model advances further could shape how regulators, financial institutions, payment companies, and technology platforms work together to detect scams before losses occur.
