ReportScams.gov Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4782
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T21:27:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation establishes a coordinated federal effort to reduce scams affecting U.S. residents by creating a government-wide priority goal, an interagency committee, an action plan, and a centralized public website (reportscams.gov) for scam prevention, reporting, and victim assistance.
Key Provisions
- Scams Priority Goal: Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish a federal priority goal to reduce scams within 90 days, appointing goal leaders including the OMB Deputy Director for Management and at least one deputy secretary from a relevant department.
- Scams Steering Committee: Mandates creation of an interagency committee within 90 days, chaired by the goal leaders and including representatives from agencies such as the Department of Justice, FBI, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Homeland Security, and others.
- Federal Scams Action Plan: Requires the committee to develop a plan within 180 days that includes a uniform definition of scams, classification standards, baseline estimates of scam numbers and costs, a 4-year reduction target, prevention and enforcement strategies, and victim support measures.
- ReportScams.gov Website: Directs establishment of a secure, centralized website within one year featuring scam education resources, government and non-government impersonation scam details, victim assistance information, and a reporting portal that routes submissions to appropriate federal and state agencies.
- Reporting and Oversight: Requires quarterly progress updates on Performance.gov, annual reports to Congress on scam data and trends, and two GAO reviews within four years.
- Additional Authorities: Allows limited interagency fund transfers (up to $10 million per year per agency, with OMB approval) and expedited direct-hire authority for up to five years to support implementation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on existing federal performance management requirements under 31 U.S.C. §§ 1120–1122 by applying them specifically to scam reduction.
- Introduces new interagency coordination mechanisms and authorities for fund transfers and hiring not previously tied to scam prevention.
- Creates a single, government-wide public portal and definition for scams that did not exist under prior law.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Improves coordination across law enforcement, financial regulators, and other entities; enables shared data and resources while requiring new reporting and website maintenance responsibilities.
- Citizens: Provides centralized access to prevention information, verified contact details, and a streamlined reporting process, potentially increasing scam awareness and victim support.
- State and Local Entities: Requires routing of reports to state law enforcement and allows inclusion of local resources in the action plan.
- International Relations: Limited direct effects, though improved domestic tracking may indirectly support cross-border enforcement efforts involving international scammers.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies on the Scams Steering Committee.
- Members of the public as potential scam victims or reporters.
- State and local law enforcement agencies.
- Congress through oversight and reporting requirements.
- Private sector entities (such as financial institutions) referenced in education and impersonation scam provisions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Enhances executive branch coordination without altering constitutional separation of powers.
- Includes safeguards for sensitive information in reports and a secure reporting portal.
- Establishes performance measurement and GAO oversight to promote accountability in scam reduction efforts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2026-06-15: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- ReportScams.gov Act — issued 2026-06-15 — PDF (24 pages)