HB5967 directs the Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, to convene an interagency task force to address scams and to develop a national strategy. The task force is composed of ten federal agencies plus the Postal Service and other relevant offices, and it is charged with employing existing fraud and money-laundering authorities, public education, and coordination with industry to curb scam activity.
A formal report outlining actions and progress must be submitted to Congress within one year of enactment, and the task force would terminate ten years after enactment.
The act emphasizes leveraging established data networks such as the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, and it calls for international cooperation and engagement with industry players, including online platforms, to reduce scam risks and improve recovery resources for victims. While it outlines consultation with consumer advocates and state and local law enforcement, it leaves funding and operational details to later rulemakings or agency implementation.
At a Glance
What It Does
Establishes an interagency task force led by the FTC (with DOJ) to develop and implement a national strategy against scams, drawing on existing data networks and enforcement authorities.
Who It Affects
Directly affects federal agencies listed in the bill, online platforms and digital services, banks and payment processors, consumer protection entities, and the general public who are exposed to scams.
Why It Matters
Creates a formal, cross-agency approach to scams, aiming to close gaps in enforcement, education, and victim support, and to coordinate international efforts with industry players.
More articles like this one.
A weekly email with all the latest developments on this topic.
What This Bill Actually Does
The Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act would create a formal, time-bound interagency group focused on combatting scams at the federal level. The Federal Trade Commission would lead the effort, working in concert with the Department of Justice, to assemble an interagency task force that includes a suite of agencies such as Homeland Security, the FBI, the State Department, the Treasury, the Veterans Affairs Department, the FCC, the SEC, the SSA, and the USPS.
The core mission is to develop and execute a national strategy to prevent scams, leveraging existing data-collection and reporting tools, coordinating with online platforms and other industry players, and using applicable enforcement authorities to pursue fraud, money laundering, and related crimes. There is an explicit emphasis on public education and on coordination with international partners to strengthen cross-border responses.
The task force must submit a report to Congress within one year of enactment and will terminate ten years after enactment unless renewed. Stakeholders to be consulted include consumer advocacy groups, financial services industries, digital platforms, state attorneys general, and local law enforcement, ensuring a broad base of input and enforcement capability.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill creates an interagency task force led by the FTC, in conjunction with the DOJ, to address scams.
It names ten federal agencies and several key offices (e.g.
DHS, FBI, State, Treasury, VA, FCC, FTC, SEC, SSA, USPS) as participants.
The task force must develop a national scam-prevention strategy using the Consumer Sentinel Network and IC3, among other tools, and coordinate with industry and international partners.
A report detailing actions must be submitted to Congress within one year of enactment.
The task force terminates ten years after enactment (with potential extensions via future legislation).
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Short Title
Defines the act as the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act, establishing its formal name for citation and reference.
Establishment of the Task Force
Establishes an interagency task force to address scams, chaired by the Federal Trade Commission in conjunction with the Department of Justice, empowered to develop and execute a national strategy.
Task Force Composition
Lists participating agencies and offices, including DHS (and Secret Service), DOJ (and FBI), State, Treasury, VA, FCC, FTC, SEC, SSA, and USPS, ensuring cross-cutting representation across law enforcement, regulatory authorities, and public communication.
Duties of the Task Force
Outlines the core duties: leverage data networks (Sentinel and IC3), public education, industry coordination, enforcement actions using existing authorities (money laundering, human trafficking, fraud), international coordination, and measures to reduce financial losses and improve victim recovery.
Consultation
Requires outreach to consumer advocacy groups, regulated industries (banking, online platforms, crypto, dating apps, P2P payments, search engines, social media, telecom equipment and providers), state attorneys general, state securities boards, and local law enforcement to gather input and align efforts.
Termination
Sets a ten-year termination clock from enactment, establishing a sunset that can be reconsidered or renewed by future legislation.
This bill is one of many.
Codify tracks hundreds of bills on Government across all five countries.
Explore Government in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Consumers harmed by scams gain access to a coordinated national response and improved victim support through enforcement and education.
- Federal agencies (FTC, DOJ, DHS, FBI, and others) gain a formal framework and shared data resources to pursue scam-related crimes more efficiently.
- Banks, payment platforms, and online services benefit from standardized collaboration and access to enhanced fraud intelligence for deterrence and remediation.
- State attorneys general and local law enforcement gain alignment with a national strategy and tools for cross-jurisdictional investigations.
- International partners benefit from streamlined cross-border cooperation to combat transnational scam networks.
Who Bears the Cost
- Federal agencies bear administrative and operational costs to staff, coordinate, and report on task-force activities.
- Private-sector platforms and financial service providers incur compliance costs to participate in information sharing and enforcement efforts.
- State and local agencies may incur costs to participate in coordination efforts and investigations.
- Taxpayers bear the burden of funding the task force and pursuing any resulting enforcement actions.
- Potentially, industry stakeholders may face litigation or regulatory actions arising from coordinated enforcement.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether a formal, cross-agency structure will meaningfully reduce scams without imposing burdens on agencies and private partners that could hinder rapid response or raise privacy and civil-liberties concerns.
The bill establishes a centralized mechanism for scam response across federal agencies, but it raises questions about funding, oversight, and the balance between enforcement and privacy. While it leverages existing authorities and data networks, the specifics of funding and operational rules are not spelled out, leaving implementation to agency discretion.
The sunset provision introduces uncertainty about long-term sustainability and effectiveness, unless Congress acts to renew or redefine the mandate. Moreover, industry coordination and international cooperation will require careful handling of cross-border data sharing and private sector concerns, ensuring that cooperation does not overstep civil liberties or create unnecessary regulatory burdens.
Try it yourself.
Ask a question in plain English, or pick a topic below. Results in seconds.