A resolution designating March 6, 2025, as "National Slam the Scam Day" to raise awareness about pervasive scams and to promote education to prevent government imposter scams and other types of scams.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 118
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-06: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1616-1617; text: CR S1609-1610)
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-09T22:21:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution designates March 6, 2025, as "National Slam the Scam Day" to increase public awareness of scams, particularly those where fraudsters pretend to be government officials (known as government imposter scams). It aims to educate people on how to avoid these scams, which target individuals by demanding money or personal information while posing as agencies like the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Medicare, or the U.S. Postal Service.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes background facts on scams and outlines the following actions:
- Designation of the Day: Officially names March 6, 2025, as "National Slam the Scam Day."
- Awareness Focus: Highlights the day as a chance to educate about government imposter scams delivered via mail, phone, text, email, social media, or websites.
- Recognition of Key Players: Acknowledges the important roles of law enforcement, consumer protection groups, phone companies, local aging services, and banks in preventing scams and teaching the public how to spot them.
- Encouragement for Prevention: Urges the creation of policies and programs to stop scams and improve protections for the public.
- Public Guidance: Advises people to:
- Ignore suspicious contacts claiming to be from government agencies.
- Share scam information with family and friends.
- Report scams to relevant authorities, such as the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General, the IRS's Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Tribute: Honors individuals and groups working to combat scams.
Background details note that scams cost Americans over $10 billion in 2023 (up from 2022), affect 1 in 4 people with a typical loss of $500, and hit older adults hardest, with the Senate's fraud hotline receiving over 12,300 complaints since 2013.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to laws or regulations. It serves as a symbolic declaration rather than enforceable legislation.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: May boost public knowledge and caution, potentially reducing financial losses from scams, especially for vulnerable groups like older adults who face higher median losses.
- On Government Agencies: Encourages agencies like the FTC, IRS, and Social Security Administration to promote education and reporting, which could lead to more coordinated anti-scam efforts without requiring new funding or rules.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the focus is domestic scam prevention.
Overall, it could foster a cultural shift toward scam vigilance, indirectly supporting existing consumer protection initiatives.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Citizens: Particularly older adults and scam victims, who are urged to learn, share, and report incidents.
- Government Agencies: Including the FTC, IRS, Social Security Administration, and Department of Health and Human Services, which are highlighted for their anti-scam roles.
- Support Organizations: Law enforcement, consumer protection groups, area agencies on aging (local services for seniors), phone companies, and financial institutions, recognized for prevention and education efforts.
- Legislators and Committees: Such as the Senate Special Committee on Aging, which tracks scam complaints.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a simple Senate resolution (agreed to without a vote in the House), it has no legal force and cannot create obligations or penalties. It aligns with existing FTC and agency guidelines on fraud reporting.
- Constitutional: No implications, as it does not involve rights, powers, or federal mandates.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (sponsored by senators from both parties) for consumer protection, potentially building momentum for future anti-scam policies. It underscores Congress's role in addressing non-legislative issues like public awareness to maintain trust in government institutions eroded by impersonation scams.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-06: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1616-1617; text: CR S1609-1610)
- 2025-03-06: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-03-06: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Designating March 6, 2025, as “National Slam the Scam Day” to raise awareness about pervasive scams and to promote education to prevent government imposter scams and other types of scams. — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (4 pages)