Supporting the designation of May 8, 2025, as "National Scam Survivor Day".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 397
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-01T16:24:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 397) aims to support the designation of May 8, 2025, as "National Scam Survivor Day." It seeks to raise awareness about the growing problem of scams in the United States, highlight their financial and emotional impacts, and encourage preventive measures and support for victims.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes several "Whereas" clauses providing background on scams and a "Resolved" section outlining the House of Representatives' positions:
- Background Facts:
- In 2024, about 2.6 million Americans reported fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with total losses exceeding $12.5 billion—an increase of $2.5 billion from the prior year.
- 44% of scam reports resulted in financial loss, with average losses per report rising 30%.
- Emerging scam tactics include social media fraud ($1.9 billion in losses), small business scams (e.g., fake invoices or impersonations), and AI-generated fake audio/video.
- At-risk groups include veterans ($584 million in losses, often targeted by fake VA officials), seniors (75% faced attempts, 30% victimized between 2021-2023), and young adults (highest losses via fake jobs, investments, or checks).
- Need for better awareness, tools for avoidance, use of government resources, and stronger law enforcement.
- House Actions:
- Supports the "National Scam Survivor Day" designation.
- Encourages public education on scams and prevention strategies.
- Recognizes scams' harm to individuals and businesses.
- Emphasizes improving access to prevention resources.
- Promotes sharing survivor stories to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking.
- Supports federal and local law enforcement's role.
- Urges collaboration among government, private sector, and nonprofits to aid survivors and prevent scams.
- Calls for enhancements to toolkits, survivor support, and accountability for scammers.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. It expresses congressional sentiment without creating new legal requirements or funding.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: May increase public awareness, empower individuals (especially vulnerable groups like seniors, veterans, and young adults) with tools to avoid scams, and reduce stigma for survivors seeking help, potentially leading to more reports and recoveries.
- On Government Agencies: Encourages agencies like the FTC and law enforcement to improve scam detection, tracking, and resources, though without mandated actions or budgets.
- On Businesses: Highlights risks to small businesses from scams, promoting better vigilance and use of federal tools.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as it focuses on domestic scams, though it indirectly addresses global tactics like AI-based fraud.
Overall, impacts are primarily educational and symbolic, fostering a cultural shift toward scam prevention without enforceable outcomes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals: Scam victims and at-risk populations (veterans, seniors aged 50-80, young adults, general consumers).
- Businesses: Small business owners targeted by invoice fraud or impersonations.
- Government Entities: FTC, Department of Veterans Affairs, federal and local law enforcement (for resource improvement and collaboration).
- Nonprofits and Private Sector: Organizations involved in consumer protection, education, and survivor support, encouraged to partner with government.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: None, as resolutions like this are advisory and do not alter laws, create rights, or allocate funds; they serve as formal expressions of Congress.
- Constitutional: No implications, as it aligns with Congress's power to inform public policy without infringing on individual rights.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by representatives from both parties) for addressing consumer fraud, potentially influencing future legislation on scam prevention. It underscores growing concern over technology-enabled crimes like AI scams, signaling priority for consumer protection in an election-year context.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-05-07: Submitted in House
- 2025-05-07: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the designation of May 8, 2025, as "National Scam Survivor Day". — issued 2025-05-07 — PDF (3 pages)